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Physics GCSE > Waves > Flashcards

Waves Flashcards

1
Q

Define : Waves

A

Waves transfer ENERGY and INFORMATION without transferring matter

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2
Q

Define : Transverse wave

A

The direction of energy transfer is perpendicular to the vibrations
Eg. Wave on surface of ocean or electromagnetic wave

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3
Q

Define : Longitudinal wave

A

The direction of energy transfer is parallel to the vibrations
Eg sound wave or ultrasound

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4
Q

Wave speed =

A

Frequency x wave length

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5
Q

Define : Frequency

A

Number of waves made per second (Hz)

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6
Q

Define wavelength :

A

The distance from one peak to the next

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7
Q

Define amplitude :

A

The maximum displacement from the equilibrium

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8
Q

Define vibrations/oscillations :

A

Repeated movement back and forth

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9
Q

Define energy :

A

The ability to do work

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10
Q

Define ultrasound :

A

A sound with a frequency above 20,000 Hz

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11
Q

Echolocation (depth) equation :

A

Depth = 1/2 x speed of sound x time between sending and receiving signal

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12
Q

Depth =

A

1/2 x distance

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13
Q

Define infrasound :

A

A frequency lower than 20 Hz

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14
Q

What are the two types of seismic waves?

A

Primary (P) waves and Secondary (S) waves

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15
Q

What is the difference between the P & S waves?

A

P waves are faster
P waves are longitudinal
S waves are transverse
S waves are slower

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16
Q

What is the Pinna?

A

The visible portion of the outer ear

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17
Q

What does the Pinna do?

A

Collects the sound waves and channels them into the ear canal

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18
Q

What does the ear canal do?

A

Transports the sound down the canal towards the eardrum

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19
Q

What does the eardrum do?

A

The soundwaves cause the eardrum to vibrate and amplify the sound

20
Q

What are three types of Ossicles?

A

Hammer, Anvil, Stirrup

21
Q

What is the ear drum?

A

A flexible oval membrane at the end of the ear canal

22
Q

What do the Ossicles do?

A

Further amplify the sound

23
Q

What does the Eustachian tube do?

A

Responsible for equalising the pressure between the air outside the ear and the air within

24
Q

What do the oval & round window do?

A

Connects the middle ear to the inner ear

25
What does the cochlea do?
The hair cells pick up vibrations in the fluid and turn it into electrical signals
26
What is the cochlea?
It is filled with fluid that moves in response to the vibrations from the oval window and nerve endings are set in motion
27
What are the semi-circular canals and what do they do?
Fluid filled tubes that help you keep balance
28
What does the auditory nerve do?
Carries the electrical impulses up the nerve to the brain where the signals are interpreted so we can hear.
29
What is an area of rarefaction?
Regions of low pressure due to particles being spread further apart.
30
What is an area of compression?
Regions of high pressure due to particles being close together
31
Wave frequency =
Number of vibrations / time taken
32
How can a waves motion be changed in reflection?
Reflection happens when a wave hits a flat surface (plane) and bounces off.
33
How can a waves motion be changed through refraction?
If the wave crosses to the new medium at an angle (not 90 degrees), the change in the wave’s speed will cause the direction of the wave’s motion to change and the wave will appear to bend
34
Describe a feature of the cochlea
Organ of corti, stiff membrane etc
35
Why can the human ear only frequencies in the range of 20Hz to 20000Hz ?
The hairs in the human cochlea have different lengths and vibrate at different frequencies of sound. (The range of frequencies that a person can hear depends on the range of lengths of hairs in the cochlea)
36
Wave period =
1 / frequency | unit (s)
37
Difference between p and s waves
P waves can’t travel through a vacuum P waves are faster P waves are longitudinal
38
What states of matter can p waves travel through?
Solids liquids and gasses
39
What states of matter can S waves travel through?
Solids and vacuum
40
How can we tell that the earth has a liquid core
Because S waves are not detected on the other side of the earth so we can assume that the outer core is liquid as the S waves cannot travel through
41
How can we tell that the inner core is solid and the outer core is liquid
Because the wave slows down due to the change in density so we can assume it is a solid
42
Experiment for waves on water
Ripple tank Adjust voltage on motor so the waves are evenly spread Count the waves in a delegated time eg 10 seconds Use a ruler to measure wave lengths Calculate velocity from this info
43
Give an example of a wave that transfers energy
Light
44
Give an example of a wave that transfers information
Sound
45
Does wavelngth change at a boundry
Yes
46
Does wave speed change at a boundry
Yes
47
Does frequency change at a boundry
No

Physics GCSE (17 decks)

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