Waves

Question 1

Wave

Answer 1

A way of transferring energy and momentum from one point to another without the transfer of matter

Question 2

Mechanical waves

Answer 2

Waves that are made up of particles vibrating

Question 3

Electromagnetic waves

Answer 3

Waves that are made up of oscillating electric and magnetic fields

Question 4

Progressive waves

Answer 4

Waves where there is a net transfer of energy and momentum from one point to another

Question 5

Stationary waves

Answer 5

Waves where there is no net transfer of energy and momentum from one point to another

Question 6

Longitudinal waves

Answer 6

Waves where the direction of vibration of the particles is parallel to motion

Question 7

Transverse waves

Answer 7

Waves where the direction of vibration of the particles is perpendicular to motion

Question 8

Wave displacement

Answer 8

The distance of an oscillating particle from its undisturbed/equilibrium position

Question 9

Amplitude of a wave

Answer 9

The maximum displacement of an oscillating particle from its equilibrium position

Question 10

Wavelength

Answer 10

The distance between two consecutive particles at the same phase
(eg. Peak to peak)

Question 11

Period of a wave

Answer 11

Equal to the time taken for one complete oscillation in a particle in a wave (time taken for each wave)

Question 12

Frequency

Answer 12

Equal to the number of complete oscillations in one second performed by a particle in a wave

Question 13

Phase Φ

Answer 13

The point a particle is at within it’s oscillation

Question 14

Phase difference

Answer 14

The fraction of a cycle between two particles within one or two waves

Question 15

Refraction

Answer 15

It occurs when a wave passes across a boundary at which the wave speed changes

(Change in speed usually results in a change in direction)

Question 16

Refractive index

Answer 16

This is equal to the ratio of the wave speeds
(As the speed of light through the material decreases the refractive index increases)

Question 17

Polaroid

Answer 17

Filters that only let certain waves through them depending on the plane
(Transverse are the only waves that can be polarised)

Question 18

Unpolarised

Answer 18

When light oscillates at different angles and planes

Question 19

Plane polarised

Answer 19

Only lets waves through in one plane

(Eg. 3D glasses)

Question 20

Describe the types of total internal reflection

Answer 20

I > c ray is reflected
I<c ray emerges
I=c ray goes along the edge of block

Question 21

Intensity

Answer 21

The radiant power passing through a surface per unit area (W/m squared)

Question 22

What are the wavelength and frequency of a radiowave?

Answer 22

•x10^3m wavelength
•x10^4 hz

Question 23

What are the wavelength and frequency of microwaves?

Answer 23

• x10^-2 m
• x10^8 hz

Question 24

What are the wavelength and frequency of infrared?

Answer 24

•x10^-5 m
• x10^12 hz

Question 25

What are the wavelength and frequency of visible light?

Answer 25

• 0.5x10^-6m
• x10^15

Question 26

What are the wavelength and frequency of ultraviolet?

Answer 26

• x10^-8 m
• x10^16 hz

Question 27

What are the wavelength and frequency of x-rays?

Answer 27

• x10^-10 m
• x10^18 hz

Question 28

What are the wavelength and frequency of gamma rays?

Answer 28

• x10^-12 m
• x10^20 hz