Waves

Question 1

Wave meaning

Answer 1

a periodic disturbance travelling through space, characterised by a vibrating medium

Question 2

Progressive wave meaning

Answer 2

a wave that carries energy from one place to another

Question 3

Displacement meaning

Answer 3

the distance of a point on the wave from its undisturbed or equilibrium position

Question 4

Amplitude meaning

Answer 4

the maximum displacement of a wave

Question 5

Wavelength meaning

Answer 5

the distance between 2 adjacent points on a wave oscillating in step with eachother

Question 6

Period meaning

Answer 6

the time taken for one complete oscillation of a point in a wave

Question 7

Frequency meaning

Answer 7

the number of oscillations per unit time of a point in a wave

Question 8

Longitudinal wave meaning

Answer 8

a wave in which the particles of the medium oscillate along in the direction in which the wave travels

Question 9

Transverse wave meaning

Answer 9

a wave in which the particles of the medium oscillate at right angles to the direction in which the wave travels

Question 10

Compression meaning

Answer 10

the point in a sound wave at which the air pressure is at maximum

Question 11

Rarefaction meaning

Answer 11

a region in a sound wave where the air pressure is less than its mean value

Question 12

Phase difference meaning

Answer 12

the fraction of a cycle between 2 oscillating particles, expressed in either degrees or radians

Question 13

Phase difference calculation

Answer 13

∆Φ = [x / λ] * 180º or 2π

Question 14

Intensity formula

Answer 14

intensity = power / area

Question 15

Intensity equation

Answer 15

Intensity ∝ amplitude²

Question 16

Intensity meaning

Answer 16

intensity is the rate of energy transmitted (power) per unit area at right angles to the wave velocity

Question 17

Wave speed formula

Answer 17

v = λf

v is speed in m/s
λ is wavelength in m
f is frequency in Hz

Question 18

Doppler effect meaning

Answer 18

the change in frequency or wavelength of a wave observed when the source of the wave observed when the source of the wave is moving towards or away from the observer (or the observer is moving relative to the source)

Question 19

Doppler effect formula

Answer 19

f’ = f(V𝓌 / V𝓌 ± Vₛ)

Question 20

Electromagnetic spectrum meaning

Answer 20

the family of waves that travel through a vacuum at a speed of 3.00 x 10⁸ ms⁻¹

Question 21

Magnetic field meaning

Answer 21

a force field in which a magnet, a wire carrying current or a moving charge experiences a force

Question 22

Electromagnetic wave meaning

Answer 22

a transverse wave travelling through space as vibrations of electric and magnetic fields

Question 23

Wavelength ranges of em waves

Answer 23

radio 10⁴
micro 10⁻²
infrared 10⁻⁶
visible**
ultraviolet 4 x 10⁻⁸
x-ray 10⁻¹²
gamma-ray 10⁻¹⁶

• • red 7 x 10⁻⁷
• • violet 4 x 10⁻⁷

Question 24

Electric field meaning

Answer 24

a force a field in which an electric charged particle experiences a force

Question 25

Plane polarised meaning

Answer 25

describes a transverse wave with oscillation in just one plane, only transverse waves can be polarised

Question 26

Malus’ Law formula

Answer 26

I = I₀cos²θ