Waves Flashcards

1
Q

What do waves transfer?

A

Energy but not matter

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2
Q

What does a mechanical wave travel through?

A

A medium

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3
Q

Examples of mechanical waves

A

Sound waves, water waves, waves on springs and ropes, seismic waves from earthquakes

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4
Q

What are mechanical waves caused by?

A

Vibrations

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5
Q

What do electromagnetic waves travel through?

A

A vacuum

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6
Q

What is the speed of light?

A

300,000,000 m/s

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7
Q

Examples of the electromagnetic waves

A

Light waves, radio waves, microwaves

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8
Q

What are oscillations?

A

Vibrations of the wave

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9
Q

In longitudinal waves which way do the oscillations travel?

A

Parallel to the direction of energy

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10
Q

In transverse waves which way do the oscillations travel?

A

Perpendicular to the direction of energy

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11
Q

What is frequency?

A

Number of waves passing a fixed point per second

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12
Q

What are the units for frequency?

A

Hertz (Hz)

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13
Q

What is the equation of period?

A

Period = 1 / frequency

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14
Q

What is period?

A

Measure of time that tells us how long it takes to pass a fixed point

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15
Q

What is the equation for the speed of a wave?

A

Speed = frequency x wavelength

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16
Q

What is the amplitude?

A

The maximum displacement of a point on a wave from its undisturbed position

17
Q

What is the law of reflection?

A

The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection

18
Q

What is refraction?

A

The bending of light rays at the interface of dissimilar substances

19
Q

What happens when a wave interacts with matter?

A

Reflection, refraction, absorption, transmission

20
Q

What do oscilloscopes show?

A

An image of a sound wave which has been converted into an electrical signal

21
Q

What is the amplitude like if a sound is loud?

A

Big

22
Q

What is the amplitude like if the sound is soft?

A

Small

23
Q

What is loudness measured in?

A

Decibels (dB)

24
Q

How do you investigate speed of sound?

A
  1. Measure 100m
  2. Person hits wood blocks together when you see this start timer
  3. Stop timer when you hear the sound
  4. Record result
  5. Repeat readings, identify anomalies, calculate mean to increase accuracy
25
Q

What are P waves?

A

Primary waves and pressure waves

26
Q

What are S waves?

A

Secondary waves and sheer waves

27
Q

What are the two types of seismic waves?

A

P waves and S waves

28
Q

What is the difference between P and S waves?

A

P waves go through liquid but S waves don’t

29
Q

What are earthquakes detected by?

A

Seismometer

30
Q

What are the shadow zones of P waves?

A

103 degrees celsius and 142 degrees celsuis

31
Q

What are the shadow zones of S waves?

A

103 degrees celsius and 103 degrees celsius

32
Q

How do scientists work out the location of an earthquake?

A

By calculating the time difference between the arrival of the P waves and s waves