Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Physics > Waves > Flashcards

Waves Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
AP® Physics flashcards Physics 101 flashcards
1
Q

Transverse wave

A

Wave in which the oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of the energy transfer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Longitudinal wave

A

Wave in which the oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Amplitude

A

The maximum displacement of a point on a wave away from its undisturbed position

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Frequency

A

The number of waves passing a point each second. Often represented by ‘f’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Wavelength

A

The distance from a point on one wave to the equivalent point on the adjacent wave. Often represented by ‘λ’. Its unit is metres

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Wave speed

A

The speed at which the energy is transferred (or the wave moves) through the medium

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Specular reflection

A

Reflection from a smooth surface in a single direction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Diffuse reflection

A

Reflection from a rough surface causing scattering

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Refraction

A

The change of direction of a wave as it passes across a boundary between two different media

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Mechanical waves

A

Waves which require a substance (medium) to travel through

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Electromagnetic waves

A

Waves that do not need a substance (medium) to travel through. They can travel through a vacuum.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Peak

A

The top part of a wave

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Trough

A

The bottom part of a wave

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Irradiation

A

Exposure of an object to ionising radiation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Compressions

A

Parts of a longitudinal wave which are squeezed together so that they have a higher density

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Rarefractions

A

Parts of a longitudinal wave which are stretched or spread apart, so that they have a lower density.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Oscillation

A

Movement of a particle back and forth - another word for vibration

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Parallel

A

In the same direction (0 degrees)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Perpendicular

A

At right angles (90 degrees)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Crests

A

Peaks of a transverse wave

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Troughs

A

Bottom most parts of a transverse wave

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Amplitude

A

The height of a wave crest or a wave trough of a transverse wave from the rest position. In a longitudinal wave, this is the maximum distance moved by an oscillating object from its equilibrium position

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Hertz (Hz)

A

Unit of frequency

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Kilohertz (Khz)

A

Another unit of frequency. 1 Khz = 1000 Hz

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Speed

A

How fast an object is travelling. Often represented by ‘v’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Metres per second (m/s)

A

The unit of speed and velocity

27
Q

Period

A

The time for one cycle of a wave, measured in seconds. Often represented by ‘T’

28
Q

Electromagnetic waves

A

Electric and magnetic disturbances that transfer energy from one place to another.

29
Q

Electromagnetic spectrum

A

List of electromagnetic waves which shows the different types of electromagnetic waves as their wavelength changes

30
Q

Vacuum

A

An area or space which is entirely empty and contains no matter

31
Q

Radio waves

A

Electromagnetic waves with a wavelength longer than about 10 centimetres. These are electromagnetic waves with the lowest energy.

32
Q

Microwaves

A

Electromagnetic waves with a wavelength between approximately 1mm and 10cm

33
Q

Infrared radiation

A

Electromagnetic waves between visible light and microwaves in the electromagnetic spectrum

34
Q

Visible light

A

Electromagnetic waves that can be seen by the human eye

35
Q

Ultraviolet radiation

A

Electromagnetic waves between visible light and x-rays in the electromagnetic spectrum

36
Q

X-rays

A

Electromagnetic waves between ultra violet and gamma rays in the electromagnetic spectrum. They are commonly used for medical imaging

37
Q

Gamma radiation

A

Electromagnetic waves with the shortest wavelengths and the highest energy in the electromagnetic spectrum

38
Q

Reflection

A

When a wave bounces off the surface of a substance

39
Q

Absorbed

A

When a wave is taken in by a material

40
Q

Transmitted

A

When a wave passes through a material

41
Q

Boundary

A

The surface between one substance and another

42
Q

Ray diagram

A

Diagram drawn to show the direction a wave travels in (usually drawn for light rays)

43
Q

Normal

A

A line drawn at 90 degrees to a surface, at the point of incidence

44
Q

Incident ray

A

A ray incoming towards a surface

45
Q

Angle of incidence

A

Angle between the incident ray and the normal

46
Q

Refracted ray

A

A ray bent at the boundary between two surfaces

47
Q

Angle of refraction

A

Angle between the refracted ray and the normal

48
Q

Wavefront

A

A surface which travels with a wave, and is perpendicular to the direction of the wave. (Eg. ripples on a ripple tank)

49
Q

Medium

A

Another word for substance

50
Q

Alternating current

A

An electric current which repeatedly reverses its direction

51
Q

Radiation dose

A

A measure of the risk of harm from exposure of the body to radiation

52
Q

Sievert (Sv)

A

The unit of radiation dose

53
Q

Bluetooth

A

Short range radio wave connections which are used to transfer information

54
Q

Satellite

A

An object in orbit around a planet. Around earth, some artificial satellites are used for microwave communications

55
Q

Infrared camera

A

A device used to detect the amount of infrared radiation emitted by an object. The information is displayed as an image using different colours to represent different amounts of radiation.

56
Q

Optical fibre

A

Thin glass fibre used to send signals

57
Q

Sound waves

A

Waves that pass through a substance, causing vibrations

58
Q

Human hearing range

A

The range of frequencies that an ‘average’ person can detect. The range for ‘normal’ hearing is 20 Hz to 20Khz

59
Q

Ultrasound

A

A sound wave with a frequency higher than 20Khz (higher than the human hearing range)

60
Q

Partial reflection

A

When only some of a set of waves are reflected at a boundary

61
Q

Seismic waves

A

Waves produced by earthquakes

62
Q

P-waves (or primary waves)

A

Longitudinal waves produced by an earthquake

63
Q

S-waves (or secondary waves)

A

Transverse waves produced by an earthquake

64
Q

Echo

A

The reflection of a sound wave

Physics (5 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions