waves

Question 1

electromagnetic waves

Answer 1

waves on the electromagnetic spectrum

Question 2

transverse waves

Answer 2

oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy travel

Question 3

longitudinal wave

Answer 3

movement and oscillations are parallel

Question 4

rarefaction

Answer 4

when longitudinal waves expand

Question 5

compression

Answer 5

when longitudinal waves compress

Question 6

amplitude

Answer 6

height of a wave from the middle line

Question 7

wavelength

Answer 7

length of one wave, one peak to another

Question 8

frequency, Hz

Answer 8

number of waves passing a point each second

Question 9

period

Answer 9

how long it takes to form one wave

Question 10

refraction

Answer 10

how the speed of the wave changes as it travels through a different medium

Question 11

waves in the same medium always…

Answer 11

travel at the same speed

Question 12

pitch

Answer 12

how high/ low the frequency is

Question 13

loudness

Answer 13

how high the amplitude is

Question 14

non ionising

Answer 14

radiation that doesn’t have enough energy to remove an electron (ionising) an atom/molecule

Question 15

wavespeed (m/s) =

Answer 15

frequency (Hz) x wavelength (m)

Question 16

waves in a ripple tank practical, 6 points

Answer 16

1 set up ripple tank
2 start motor
3 increase stroboscope frequency until waves appear stationary
4 measure wavelength (use the shadows created by the stroboscope that the waves make on the screen below)
5 calculate wavespeed
6 repeat for other motor speeds

Question 17

reflection

Answer 17

angle of incidence is equal to angle of reflection

Question 18

specular reflection

Answer 18

when reflections are different as a result of distortion

Question 19

how sound travels

Answer 19

• something in the object vibrates
• layer of air closest to the object starts to vibrate
• layer knocks into neighbouring layers and passes vibration along
• the air particles are pulled back and forth
• ear drum vibrates at the same frequency, allowing us to hear

Question 20

waves on a string practical

Answer 20

set up string, masses, vibrator and signal generator

start signal generator

increase signal generator frequency until waves appear stationary

measure using a ruler