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GCSE Physics > Waves > Flashcards

Waves Flashcards

1
Q

What are sounds caused by?

A

Vibrations

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2
Q

Fast vibrations have a ??? pitch

A

High pitch

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3
Q

Slow vibrations have a ??? pitch

A

Low pitch

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4
Q

High pitched sounds vibrate at a ??? speed

A

Fast speed

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5
Q

Low pitched sounds vibrate at a ??? speed

A

Slow speed

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6
Q

What is the frequency of a wave?

A

The number of waves that pass a certain point in a second

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7
Q

What is frequency measured in?

A

Hertz (Hz)

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8
Q

What is a transverse wave?

A

A wave where the particles oscillate perpendicular to the direction the wave travels

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9
Q

What is a longitudinal wave?

A

A wave where the particles oscillate parallel to the direction the wave travels

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10
Q

What is the peak of a wave?

A

The highest point of a wave

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11
Q

What is the trough of a wave?

A

The lowest point of the wave

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12
Q

What is the highest point of the wave called?

A

The peak/crest

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13
Q

What is the lowest point of the wave called?

A

The trough

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14
Q

Increasing the energy of the wave will increase its ???

A

Amplitude

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15
Q

What is the amplitude of a wave?

A

The largest displacement of a particle in a wave from its centre of oscillation

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16
Q

What is the wavelength of a wave?

A

The distance between two matching points on neighbouring waves

17
Q

What is the period of a wave?

A

The time taken for a wave to go through one complete oscillation

18
Q

Name 3 examples of longitudinal waves

A
  • Sound waves
  • Ultrasound waves
  • Seismic P-waves
19
Q

What is a compression (waves)?

A

A region of high pressure due to particles being closer together

20
Q

What is a rarefaction?

A

A region of low pressure due to particles being spread further apart

21
Q

Name 3 examples of transverse waves?

A
  • Electromagnetic waves
  • Seismic S-waves
  • Water waves
22
Q

What is The Wave Equation?

A

Wave velocity = frequency x wavelength

23
Q

What do waves transfer?

A

Energy but not matter

24
Q

Which of these can sound travel through?

Solids, Liquids, Gases, A Vaccum

A

All except a vacuum, since there are no particles for the wave to carry vibrations

25
Q

What affects the speed of sound?

A

The medium of which it is travelling through

26
Q

What is another name for the peak of a wave?

27
Q

What is a wavefront?

A

An imaginary line representing points of a wave that are at the same point in their cycle

28
Q

How would you measure the velocity of sound in the air?

A

Using the equation speed = distance / time

GCSE Physics (9 decks)

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