Waves Flashcards
What types of waves are there?
Waves may be either transverse or longitudinal.
give an example of transverse waves:
The ripples on a water surface are an example of a transverse wave
give an example of longitudinal waves:
Longitudinal waves show areas of compression and rarefaction. Sound waves travelling through air are longitudinal.
What is the amplitude of a wave?
The amplitude of a wave is the maximum displacement of a point on a wave away from its undisturbed position.
What is the wavelength of a wave?
The wavelength of a wave is the distance from a point on one wave to the equivalent point on the adjacent wave.
What is the frequency of a wave?
The frequency of a wave is the number of waves passing a point each second.
What is wave speed?
The wave speed is the speed at which the energy is transferred (or the wave moves) through the medium.
What are electromagnetic waves?
Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves that transfer energy from the source of the waves to an absorber.
What do electromagnetic waves form?
Electromagnetic waves form a continuous spectrum and all types of electromagnetic wave travel at the same velocity through a vacuum (space) or air.
How are waves in the electromagnetic spectrum grouped?
The waves that form the electromagnetic spectrum are grouped in terms of their wavelength and their frequency. Going from long to short wavelength (or from low to high frequency)
List the electromagnetic in order?
radio, microwave, infrared, visible light (red to violet), ultraviolet, X-rays and gamma rays
Can we see visible light?
Our eyes only detect visible light and so detect a limited range of electromagnetic waves.
What are the properties of electromagnetic waves?
What can changes in atoms and the nuclei of atoms result in?
Changes in atoms and the nuclei of atoms can result in
electromagnetic waves being generated or absorbed over a wide frequency range. Gamma rays originate from changes in the nucleus of an atom.
What waves have hazardous effects on human body tissue?
Ultraviolet waves, X-rays and gamma rays can have hazardous effects on human body tissue. The effects depend on the type of
radiation and the size of the dose. Radiation dose (in sieverts) is a measure of the risk of harm resulting from an exposure of the body
to the radiation.
