Waves Flashcards

1
Q

amplitude (A) Wave

A

maximum displacement of the medium from the equilibrium position

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2
Q

Amplitude (Xo) SHM

A

maximum displacement from the equilibrium position

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3
Q

analyser

A

a device that can detect polarised light

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4
Q

antinode

A

position of maximum displacement

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5
Q

Brewster’s law

A

when light reflects off a surface it will be 100 percent polarised in the plane of the surface if angle between the reflected and refracted is 90 degree

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6
Q

coherent

A

wave sources that have a fixed phase relationship

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7
Q

compression

A

part of a longitudinal wave where the particles are closest together

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8
Q

constructive inferencce

A

occurs when waves meet in phase to give maximum displacement

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9
Q

critical angle

A

angle of incidence above which total internal reflection may occur

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10
Q

destruction interference

A

occur when waves meet out of phase to give zero displacement

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11
Q

diffraction

A

spreading out of waves past an obstacle or through a gap

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12
Q

displacement (x) SHM

A

instantaneous distance from the equilibrium position in a specific direction

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13
Q

displacement (x) wave

A

instantaneous distance from the equilibrium position in a specific direction

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14
Q

electromagnetic waves

A

do not require a medium so can travel through a vacuum

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15
Q

frequency (f) SHM

A

number of oscillations per second

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16
Q

frequency (f) wave

A

number of oscillations of the medium per second

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17
Q

fundamental frequency (fo)

A

the lowest frequency standing wave that can be formed in a pipe or on a string

18
Q

intensity (I)

A

power per unit area received by an observer

19
Q

isochronous oscillation

A

an oscillation with a constant time period

20
Q

Malus’s law

A

I = Io cos2 θ

21
Q

mechanical waves

A

requires a medium through which to travel

22
Q

node

A

position of zero displacement

23
Q

optically active substance

A

substance that rotates the plane of polarised light as light passes through it

24
Q

period (T) SHM

A

time for one oscillation

25
Q

period (T) wave

A

time for one complete oscillation of the medium (or for a complete wave to pass a given point)

26
Q

polarised light

A

light in which the electric field vector is oscillating on one plane only

27
Q

rarefaction

A

part of a longitudinal wave where the particles are furthest apart

28
Q

ray

A

shows the direction of energy transfer of a wave

29
Q

refraction

A

the change in speed of a wave that occurs when it travels into a different medium

30
Q

refractive index (n)

A

a measure of how fast a wave travels in a medium

31
Q

restoring force SHM

A

a force that is always directed towards the equilibrium position

32
Q

simple harmonic motion

A

an oscillation when the force (and acceleration) is proportional to displacement from the equilibrium position but is in the opposite direction.

33
Q

snell’s law

A

n = sin i / sin r

34
Q

standing wave

A

a wave formed when a wave is reflected and the reflected wave interferes with the forward moving wave

35
Q

superposition

A

a resultant wave formed by the addition of the
displacements of individual waves when they interfere

36
Q

total internal reflection

A

occurs when a wave is travelling into a less dense medium and when the angle of incidence at the boundary is greater than the critical angle

37
Q

transverse wave

A

the particles of the medium oscillate perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer

38
Q

wave

A

a movement of energy through a medium

39
Q

wave speed (c)

A

distance travelled per unit time by the energy of the wave

40
Q

wavefront

A

line connecting points along a wave that are in phase