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A Level Physics Paper 2 > Waves > Flashcards

Waves Flashcards

1
Q

What are waves?

A

Oscillations of particles in a medium that transfer energy

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2
Q

What are progressive waves?

A

Waves that move - carrying energy from one place to another

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3
Q

What 3 things can happen to waves?

A
  1. Reflection
  2. Refraction
  3. Diffraction
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4
Q

What is reflection?

A

When a wave is bounced back when it hits a boundary
Eg. you can see the reflection of light in mirrors

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5
Q

What is refraction?

A

When a wave changes direction when it enters a different medium. Change of direction is due to change of speed

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6
Q

What is diffraction?

A

When a wave spreads out as it passes through a gap or round an obstacle
Eg. you can hear sound from round a corner

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7
Q

What is the amplitude of a wave?

A

Maximum displacement from the undisturbed position. For a transverse wave this is the height of a crest above equilibrium. Measured in metres

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8
Q

What is the frequency of a wave?

A

Number of whole wave cycles (oscillations) per second passing a given point
Measured in Hertz (Hz)

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9
Q

What is the wavelength of a wave?

A

Length of whole wave oscillation or wave cycle.
Measured in metres

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10
Q

What is the phase of a wave?

A

Measurement of the position of a certain point along a wave.

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11
Q

What is the phase difference?

A

Amount by which one wave lags behind another wave

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12
Q

What are phase and phase difference measured in?

A

Measured in angles (degrees or radians) or fractions of a cycle

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13
Q

What is the time period of a wave?

A

Time taken for one whole wave cycle
Measured in seconds

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14
Q

What is the equation linking frequency and time period?

A

frequency = 1/period

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15
Q

What is the equation for wave speed?

A

wave speed = frequency x wavelength

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16
Q

Describe the experiment used to measure the speed of sound

A
  • Put two microphones in a straight line of a distance, d apart. The microphones should have different inputs so the signal from each can be recorded separately
  • Use the signal generator to produce a sound from the loudspeaker and use the computer to record the time between the first and second microphone picking up the sound. (read off graph of voltage against time)
  • Then use speed = distance/time
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17
Q

What is the speed of electromagnetic waves in a vacuum?

A

3.0 x 10^8 m/s

18
Q

What are transverse waves?

A

Waves where the direction of vibration is perpendicular to the direction of energy propagation

19
Q

Give examples of transverse waves

A

Electromagnetic Waves
Ripples of water
S waves (seismic waves)

20
Q

What are longitudinal waves?

A

Waves where the direction of vibration of the particles is parallel to the direction of energy propagation
Consists of alternate compressions and rarefactions

21
Q

Give examples of longitudinal waves

A

Sound waves
P waves (seismic waves)

22
Q

What is superposition?

A

When two waves meet, the total displacement at a point is equal to the sum of the individual displacements at that point

23
Q

What is a polarised wave?

A

A wave the oscillates in one direction (plane)

24
Q

Which type of waves can be polarised?

A

Transverse waves - provides evidence for the nature of transverse waves

25
Q

How does a polarising filter work?

A

Polarises unpolarised light, so that only light with oscillations in line with the filter’s transmission axis can pass through the first filter

26
Q

What real world applications does polarisation have?

A

Sunglasses
Improving TV and radio signals
Glare reduction

27
Q

How can polarisation improve TV and radio signals?

A

By lining up the rods on the receiving rods with the rods on the transmitting aerial - if they aren’t aligned, the signal strength will be lower

28
Q

How is polarisation used in polaroid sunglasses?

A

Partially polarised light reflected is polarised to reduce the intensity of the light entering a person’s eye

29
Q

What is constructive interference?

A

When two waves meet, if their displacements are in the same direction, the displacements combine to give a bigger displacement

30
Q

What is destructive interference?

A

If a wave with positive displacement (crest) meets a wave with negative displacement (trough), they will undergo destructive interference and cancel each other out

31
Q

What is total destructive interference?

A

If two waves with equal and opposite displacements meet, they cancel each other out

32
Q

What is a stationary wave?

A

Superposition of two progressive waves with the same frequency (or wavelength) and amplitude, moving in opposite directions

33
Q

Describe the formation of a stationary wave by setting up a driving oscillator at one end of a stretched string with the other end fixed?

A

Waves generated by oscillator reflect back and forth until a resonant frequency is reached where a wave and a reflective wave reinforce each other - forming a stationary wave that doesn’t move along, just vibrates up and down, with nodes and antinodes

34
Q

What is a node?

A

Points on a stationary wave where the amplitude of the vibration is zero

35
Q

What is an antinode?

A

Points of maximum amplitude on a stationary wave

36
Q

What is the equation linking amount of wavelengths that can fit on a string and the harmonic?

A

at Ath harmonic, A/2 wavelengths will fit on the string

37
Q

What is the first harmonic

A

When the stationary wave is vibrating at its lowest possible resonant frequency

38
Q

How can you produce a stationary wave using microwaves?

A

-Reflecting a microwave beam at a metal plate - the superposition produces a stationary wave
- you can find the nodes and antinodes by moving the probe between the transmitter and reflecting plate. The meter or loudspeaker receives no signal at the nodes and maximum signal at the antinodes

39
Q

Give 3 things that effect resonant frequency

A

Longer the string - lower resonant frequency Heavier mass per unit length - lower resonant frequency
Lower tension - lower resonant frequency

40
Q

State some differences between transverse and longitudinal waves

A

Particles oscillate in different directions

41
Q

In a stationary wave, what is the phase difference of the oscillations of particles at 2 adjacent antinodes?

A

180 degrees out of phase

A Level Physics Paper 2 (1 decks)

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