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Physics > Waves > Flashcards

Waves Flashcards

1
Q

What is wavelength

A

Distance between the same points on two consecutive waves

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2
Q

What is amplitude

A

distance between equilibrium line and maximum displacement

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3
Q

What is frequency

A

the number of waves that pass through a single point per second

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4
Q

What is a period

A

the time taken for a whole wave to completely pass a single point

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5
Q

What is the equation for wave length

A

Wave speed= frequency x wavelength
v= f (lamda)

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6
Q

What is the equation for a period of a wave

A

period = 1/frequency
T= 1/f
seconds= 1/ Hz
(time/number of waves)

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7
Q

What are the two types of waves

A

Transverse and longitudinal

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8
Q

What is a transverse wave?

A

Light or electromagnetic wave, has peaks and troughs, vibrates at a right angle to direction of energy transfer

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9
Q

What is a longitudinal wave

A

Sound wave, has compressions and rarefaction, vibrations are in the same direction as direction as energy transfer

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10
Q

What is key about a waves movement?

A

The wave moves not what it passes through.

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11
Q

How to measure velocity of sound in air?

A

Make a noise 50 m from a wall and record time for an echo to be heard. Then use speed = distance/time

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12
Q

How to measure velocity if ripples on water surface?

A

Use a stroboscope which has the same frequency as the water waves then measure distance between fixed ripple and use v= f x (lamda)

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13
Q

What happens to waves at boundaries?

A

They can be reflected absorbed or transmitted

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14
Q

When do waves reflect?

A

Off flat surfaces

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15
Q

Angle of incidence =

A

angle of reflection

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16
Q

When are waves transmitted?

A

Through transparent materials

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17
Q

When are waves absorbed?

A

If frequency of light matches energy of electrons

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18
Q

What happens when waves are absorbed?

A

The electrons absorb the light and remit it over time as heat

19
Q

What can sound waves travel through

A

Gas liquid and solid as they cause vibrations

20
Q

How do we hear sound?

A

Putter ear collects sounds
Travels down ear canal
Wave hits ear drum with same pressure to vibrate it
Small bones also vibrate at same frequency
Vibrations transmitted to ear canal
Small hairs lining cochlear move too for specific frequencies

21
Q

What range of Hz can humans hear?

A

20Hz - 20 kHz

22
Q

What’s an ultrasound?

A

When the wave reaches a boundary between 2 materials they are partially reflected back while the rest pass through.

23
Q

What is ultrasound used for?

A

Distances or imaging under surfaces

24
Q

What are P waves?

A

Longitudinal waves that pass through solids and liquids

25
Q

What are S waves?

A

Transverse waves that only pass through solids and move slower

26
Q

What are P and S waves used for?

A

Understanding the inside of the Earth

27
Q

What is a sonar?

A

A pulse of ultrasound sent below a ship to work out depth

28
Q

What are the electromagnetic waves?

A

Radio, Micro, Infrared, Visible, Ultraviolet, X-rays, Gamma

29
Q

What are electromagnetic waves?

A

Transverse waves that don’t need particakes to move

30
Q

What part of our eyes detects visible light?

A

Retina

31
Q

What happens to refract a light wave?

A

Denser materials refract towards normal, less dense bends it away from normal

32
Q

Why does dispersion of a white light occur through a prism?

A

Different wave lengths redact different amounts.

33
Q

How are radio waves produced

A

Oscillations of electrical circuits

34
Q

What is electromagnetic radiation?

A

When electrons change orbit?

35
Q

What happens when the electrons move to a higher orbit?

A

The atom has absorbed EM rasiation

36
Q

What happens when the electron falls to a lower orbit?

A

The atom has emitted EM radiation

37
Q

What is a wave?

A

an oscillation or vibration passing through a medium

38
Q

What is the movement of a wave caused by?

A

The individual particles of the medium moving/ oscillating around its rest position

39
Q

What happens in longitudinal waves?

A

They have compressions and rerefaction

40
Q

Equation for frequency of waves?

A

Frequency = number of waves/ time
1/t

41
Q

What does speed of sound depend on?

A

The density and temp of material but can be considered constant on any day

42
Q

What is equation for percentage uncertainty?

A

resolution/ value
half range/ mean x100

43
Q

What is a black body?

A

An object that absorbs all the radiation it receives and also emits all types of radiation

Physics (10 decks)

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