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physics paper 2 🎀 > waves > Flashcards

waves Flashcards

1
Q

what is a transverse wave?

A

the particles vibrate perpendicular to the direction of wave travel

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2
Q

give examples of transverse waves

A
  • ripples on a water surface
  • seismic (s) waves
    all electromagnetic waves like…
  • micro waves
  • light waves
  • radio waves
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3
Q

what is a longitudinal wave?

A

the particle vibrations are parallel to the direction of wave travel

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4
Q

give examples of longitudinal waves

A
  • sound waves
  • ultrasound waves
  • seismic (p) waves
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5
Q

what is the amplitude of a wave?

A

distance between the resting position and the maximum displacement of the wave

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6
Q

define wavelength

A

the distance of a point of one length to the equivalent point on the adjacent wave

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7
Q

define frequency

A

the number of waves passing a point each second

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8
Q

what is wave speed?

A

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

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9
Q

state the equation for calculating wave speed

A

wave speed = wavelength x frequency

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10
Q

describe a method to measure the speed of sound waves in air

A
  • find a large open space, like a field, and place two people at a known distance apart
  • have one person make a loud noise like clapping or whistling
  • the second person measures the time it takes for the sound to echo, using a stopwatch
  • divide the distance travelled by the time taken to find the speed of sound in air
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11
Q

describe a method to measure the speed of ripples on a water surface

A
  • find a calm, still body of water
  • place a ruler perpendicular to the direction of the ripple, ensuing that it’s touching the water
  • start a stopwatch as soon as a ripple passes the “0” mark on the ruler
  • time how long it takes for the ripple to pass a known distance (eg, 20 centimetres)
  • repeat the measurement 3 more times to calculate an average time
  • use the equation ( distance divided by time) to calculate the speed
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12
Q

define transmission

A

a wave passes across or through a medium

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13
Q

define absorption

A

energy is transferred from the wave, into the particles of a substance

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14
Q

give an example of wave energy absorption

A
  • sunlight landing on face, warming skin
  • sound waves hitting thick curtains give up their energy, muffling sound
  • infrared ration of the sun is absorbed by the surface of the earth
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15
Q

give an example of wave energy transmission

A
  • light passing through a glass window continues with over 95% of its energy
  • ultrasound waves scanning a baby pass from flesh to bone and continue with enough energy for the machine to detect an echo
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16
Q

refraction occurs when…

A

… a wave changes direction as it passes between the boundary between two mediums

this happens because the wave speed changes as it enters a new medium, causing the wave to bend

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17
Q

reflection occurs when…

A

… a wave hits a boundary between two mediums and does not pass through, but instead stays in the original medium

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18
Q

the law of reflection states that:

A

the angle of incidence = the angle of reflection

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19
Q

which surfaces are the most and the least reflective?

A

MOST
flat, smooth surfaces

LEAST
rough surfaces (light scatters in all directions)

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20
Q

if an object appears red, this means that…

A
  • only red light has been reflected
  • all other colours have been absorbed
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21
Q

describe the effects of sound waves on the eardrum

A
  • sounds waves cause the ear drum to vibrate, causing the sensation of sound
  • this conversion of sound waves to solid vibrations works over a limited frequency range
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22
Q

state the range of normal human hearing?

A

20Hz - 20kHz

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23
Q

give some uses of ultraviolet

A
  • sterilising (surgical) equipment
  • killing microorganisms
  • increase growth rate in plants
  • water purification
  • detecting forged bank notes
24
Q

what property of a light ray changes when it is refracted?

A

velocity

25
Q

what happens when an ultrasound wave meets a boundary between two different mediums?

A

it’s partially reflected

26
Q

how are seismic waves produced?

A

earthquakes

27
Q

describe the properties of seismic-p waves

A
  • longitudinal
  • can travel through solids, liquids, and gases, but their speed can vary depending on the material
  • can travel through the earth’s core
28
Q

describe the properties of seismic-s waves

A
  • transverse
  • cannot travel through liquids, gases, or the earth’s core
  • slower
29
Q

what is echo-sounding used for?

A
  • detect objects in deep water
  • measure water depth
30
Q

what are electromagnetic waves?

A

transverse waves that transfer energy from the source of the wave to an absorber

31
Q

state the electromagnetic wave order, going from the longest to the shortest wavelength

A
  • radiowaves
  • microwaves
  • infared
  • visible light
  • ultraviolet
  • xrays
  • gamma rays

(really mad iguanas visit unique xeranthemum gardens)

32
Q

how are radio waves produced?

A

oscillations in electrical circuits

33
Q

which three waves have hazardous effects on humans?

A

ultraviolet, x-ray, gamma

34
Q

what is the unit of radiation dose?

A

sievert

35
Q

what is the danger of using ultraviolet rays?

A
  • can cause skin to age prematurely
  • increased risk of skin cancer
36
Q

what happens when radio waves are absorbed?

A

they may create an alternating current with the same frequency as the radio wave itself

so….

radio waves can themselves induce oscillations in an electrical current

37
Q

gamma rays origionate from…

A

… changes in the nucleus of an atom

38
Q

what are the dangers of x-ray and gamma rays?

A
  • mutations in genes and cancer
  • due to ionising radiation
39
Q

state the practical uses of radio waves

A
  • televisions
  • radios
40
Q

state the practical uses of microwaves

A
  • satellite communications
  • cooking food
41
Q

state the practical uses of infared

A
  • infrared cameras
  • electrical heaters
  • cooking food
42
Q

state the practical uses of visible light

A

fibre optic communication

43
Q

state the practical uses of x-ray and gamma rays

A

medical imaging and treatments

44
Q

how does a lens form an image?

A

by refracting light

45
Q

state the definition of focal length

A

the distance from the lens to the principal focus

46
Q

the image produced by a convex lens can be…

A

real or virtual

47
Q

the image produced by a concave lens is…

A

always virtual

48
Q

define specular reflection

A

reflection from a smooth surface in a singular direction

49
Q

define diffuse reflection

A

reflection from a rough surface, causing light to be scattered

50
Q

an object appears white if…

A

… all wavelengths are reflected equally

51
Q

an object appears black if…

A

… all wavelengths are absorbed

52
Q

what is a perfect black body?

A
  • an object that absorbs all of the infrared radiation incident on it
  • since a good absorber = a good emitter, a perfect black body would be the best possible emitter
53
Q

what does the intensity and wavelength distribution of any emmision depend on?

A

the temperature of the body

54
Q

a body at constant temperature is…

A

… absorbing radiation at the same rate that it is emitting it

55
Q

state the factors that determine the temperature of the earth

A
  • rate of absorption and emission of radiation
  • reflection of radiation into space

physics paper 2 🎀 (4 decks)

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