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% polarised in
the plane of the surface if the angle between the reflected and refracted rays is 90

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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 interference

A

occurs when waves meet in phase to give max displacement

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9
Q

Critical angle (θc)

A

angle of incidence above which total internal reflection may occur

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10
Q

destructive interference

A

occurs 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 the medium has moved 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 se

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16
Q

Frequency (f)(wave)

A

number of oscillations of the medium per sec

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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

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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

longitudinal wave

A

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

21
Q

Malus’ law

A

I = Io cos^2 θ

22
Q

Mechanical waves

A

require a medium through which to travel

23
Q

Node

A

position of zero displacement

24
Q

optically active substance

A

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

25
path difference
difference in distance travelled by two different waves, given in terms of wavelength
26
Period (T)(SHM)
Time for one oscillation
27
Period (T)(wave)
time for one complete oscillation of the medium (or for a complete wave to pass a given point)
28
Polarised light
light in which the electric field vector is oscillation on one plane only
29
Rarefaction
part of a longitudinal wave where the particle are furthest apart
30
Ray
shows the direction of energy transfer of a wave
31
refraction
the change in speed of a wave that occurs when it travels into a different medium
32
refractive index (n)
a measure of how fast a wave travels in a medium
33
restoring force (SHM)
a force that is always directed towards the equilibrium position
34
simple harmonic motion
an oscillation where the force (and acceleration) is proportional to displacement from the equilibrium position but is in the opposite direction
35
Snell's law
n = sin i/sin 4
36
Standing wave
a wave formed when a wave is reflected and the reflected wave interferes with the forward moving wave
37
Superposition
a resultant wave formed by the addition of the displacements of individual waves when they interfere
38
Total internal reflection
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
39
Transverse wave
the particles of the medium oscillate perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer
40
wave
a movement of energy through a medium
41
wave speed (c)
distance travelled per unit time by the energy of the wave
42
wavefront
line connecting points along a wave that are in phase
43
wavelength (λ)
shortest distance along a wave between two points that are in phase