Waves Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the definition of a progressive wave

A

a wave that transfers energy from one point in space to another, without transferring matter

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2
Q

what is a transverse wave

A

A wave where occupations at right angles to the direction of travel and energy

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3
Q

What are examples of transverse waves

A

electromagnetic waves, secondary seismic waves (s-waves), the top layer of water

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4
Q

what is longitudinal waves

A

where the oscillations are parallel to the direction of travel

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5
Q

what are examples of longitudinal waves

A

sound waves , primary seismic waves (p-waves)

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6
Q

what is amplitude

A

the maximum displacement of a wave

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7
Q

what is frequency

A

the number of waves each second

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8
Q

what is the time period of a wave

A

the time for a complete wave to pass

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9
Q

what is phase difference

A

how far apart two waves are. can be expressed in terms of numbers of wavelengths, degrees, or radians.

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10
Q

what is the wave equation

A

velocity = frequency * wavelength

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11
Q

what is polarisation, and what kind of wave does it work for

A

restricting the oscillation of a wave to one plane only. Only works for transverse, not longitudinal.

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12
Q

what is superpositions

A

2 waves meeting in phase

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13
Q

what is diffraction

A

when waves pass through a gap, they spread out. if the wavelength = gap size, the diffraction is maximum

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14
Q

what does coherent mean

A

waves with the same frequency, same wavelength, and a constant phase difference

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15
Q

To achieve a stationary interference pattern, what must two wave sources be

A

coherent

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16
Q

what is path difference

A

the difference in length between two waves which meet at a point. measured in metres or fractions of wavelength

17
Q

what is monochromatic light

A

light with a single frequency and wavelength

18
Q

what do the words incident normally mean?

A

light hitting a surface at 90 degrees (perpendicular)

19
Q

what is a diffraction grating

A

a series of parallel lines on a piece of glass. the spaces between lines act as slits

20
Q

what is diffraction grating rating

A

the number of lines per mm

21
Q

how to find slit separation from grating rating

A

d = 1/grating rating

22
Q

what is the diffraction grating formula

A

d * sinθ = n * λ

23
Q

what is wave intensity

A

progressive waves transfer energy, and the energy passing each second through an area of 1m³ is the intensity.

24
Q

what is the formula for intensity

A

I = P / A

25
Q

what is a stationary/standing wave

A

the superposition of two progressive waves travelling in opposite directions with equal frequency and similar amplitude

26
Q

how to find the refractive index of material x

A

nₓ = c / cₓ

27
Q

what is the approx. refractive index of air

A

1

28
Q

what is snells law

A

n₁ * sinθ₁ = n₂ * sinθ₂

when θ₁ < θ₂ or n₁ < n₂
θ₁ = angle of incidence
θ₂ = angle of refraction

29
Q

what is the formula for critical angle

A

sin theta = n2 / n1

30
Q

what happens when angle of incidence is >, =, < critical angle

A

incidence < critical: most light refracted, some reflected
incidence = critical: most refracted along boundary, some reflected
incidence > critical: total internal reflection occurs

31
Q

why do optical fibres need cladding

A

cladding protects against scratching, avoids crosstalk, avoids signal broadening

32
Q

what is multimodal dispersion, and how to prevent it

A

if material with small critical angle used for optical fibre, rays will take a different amount of time to reach the end. to prevent use cladding, fibre with a small diameter, or repeaters so pulse is reformed.

33
Q

what is the transmission rate

A

the number of pulses per second. it is greater when there is less modal dispersion. occurs with smaller diameter optical fibres.

34
Q

what are uses of optical fibres

A

fibre broadband, telephone signals, decoration