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A Level Physics > Waves > Flashcards

Waves Flashcards

1
Q

progressive wave definition

A

waves that transfer energy away from a source

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2
Q

transverse vs longitudinal waves

A

transverse travel perpendicular to direction of energy transfer, longitudinal parralel

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3
Q

wavelength deginition

A

Distance between two ADJACENT points on a progressive which are oscillating in phase

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4
Q

restoring force

A

a force which acts to bring a particle to it’s equilibrium position after it’s been displaced

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5
Q

amplitude definition

A

MAXIMUM displacement from the equilibrium point

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6
Q

displacement

A

is the direction and magnitude a particle has travelled from the equilibrium point

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7
Q

displacement vs amplitude

A

amplitude is the maximum distance, displacement doesn’t have to be

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8
Q

wavespeed equation

A

wavespeed = frequency * wavelength

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9
Q

frequency equation

A

frequncey = 1 / time period

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10
Q

true or false displacement-distance graphs are identical for transverse & longitudinal waves

A

true

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11
Q

what else happens wjen a wave refracts

A

partial reflection

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12
Q

what is the reflection of a sound wave

A

echo

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13
Q

polarised waves definition

A

waves that are restricted to oscillate in 1 plane (1), perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer

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14
Q

polarisation definition

A

the phenomenon in whoich oscillations of a transverse wave are limited to 1 plane

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15
Q

phase difference defintiion

A

difference between displacements of particles (1) on a wave/ different waves

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16
Q

In-phase

A

when particles oscillate in step reach their maximum positive displacement at the same time

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17
Q

anti-phase

A

when particles oscillate out of step; one reaches it’s maximum +ve displacement & the other particle reaches maximum -ve displacement

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18
Q

phase difference equation

A

distance between particles/wavelength

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19
Q

what is phase difference measured in?

A

radians/ degrees

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20
Q

how many radians & degrees is 1 cycle

A

1 cycle = 360 degrees = 2 radians

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21
Q

what are 2 point described as if they have a phase difference of 180 degrees (1 radian)

A

anti-phase

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22
Q

what are wavefronts

A

the peak of a water wave (i.e ripples)

23
Q

how can wavelength change, but frequency stay the same after refraction

A

e.g wavelength decreases, but wavespeed decreases ‘at same rate’

24
Q

definition of diffraction

A

the phenomenon in which waves spread out when passing through a gap or travel around a obstacle

25
Q

true or false all EM waves included light can be diffracted

A

true

26
Q

what changes when a wave diffracts? speed, wavelength, or frequency?

A

none of them

27
Q

What impacts how much a wave diffracts

A

depends on the relative side of hre wavelength and the gap / obstacle

28
Q

when is a wave diffracred the most

A

when the size of the gap/pbstacle is the same as the wavelength

29
Q

name four properties that are the same for all ENM waves

A
  • travel at same speed in vacuum: 300,000 km/s
  • can be reflected, diffracted & refracted
  • all are transverse waves
30
Q

describe a wave that is in-phase

A

when party=icles osciliate IN STEP, i.e reach thier maximum positive displacement at the same time

31
Q

equation to solve phase difference

A

phase difference = distance between 2 particles / wavelength * 360 degrees

32
Q

waht can you find from displacememnt - distacne graph?

A

wavelength

33
Q

waht can you find from displacememnt - time graph?

A

PERIOD of the wave; not it’s frequcney

34
Q

what do displacement -time graphs and displacement -distance graphs both represent

A

amplitude of wave

35
Q

how can light be polarised

A

use a polarising filter

reflect the light

36
Q

what EM waves are polarised for real life uses

A

radio waves

37
Q

what material can EM waves not pass through

A

metal

38
Q

what are polarised waves called

A

plane-polarised wave

39
Q

what is the symbol for unpolarised waves? vertically polarised? horizontally polarized?

A

search it up

40
Q

what is the law of reflection

A

when waves are reflected, the angle of incidence = angle of reflection

41
Q

when waves are reflected, …. changes …. don’t change

A

wavelength and frequency don’t change

42
Q

when waves are refracted, …. changes …. don’t change

A

wavelength changes,

43
Q

what is Snell’s law

A

sin i is directly proportional to sin r

44
Q

how do you calculate refractive index?

A

n = speed of light in a vacuum/ speed of light in medium

45
Q

when does toal internal reflection occur?

A

when angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle

46
Q

when does refraction occur?

A

when the angle of incidence is smaller than the critical angle

47
Q

What happens to the pattern when the width of the slit is reduced?

A

The intensities of all of the peaks decrease and the width of the pattern increases.

48
Q

similarities between longitudinal and transverse wvaes

A

They both transfer energy from one place to another without any overall (net) movement of matter.

49
Q

difference between oscillation vs waves

A

An oscillation describes the periodic motion of a particle about its mean position or equilibrium position,
whereas a wave refers to the motion of the energy outwards from the initial disturbance

50
Q

what does sound wave speed depend on (2)

A

type of medium & temperature

51
Q

should the angle be below, above or equal to the critical angle to be internally reflected when pass into different medium

A

above

52
Q

should the angle be below, above or equal to the critical angle to be refracted and partially internal refelcted when pass into different medium

A

below

53
Q

should the angle be below, above or equal to the critical angle to pass along boundary when pass into different medium

A

equal

A Level Physics (6 decks)

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