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Physics Paper 1 > waves > Flashcards

waves Flashcards

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AP® Physics flashcards Physics 101 flashcards
1
Q

What is a transverse wave ?

A

Particle oscillation is perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer

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2
Q

What is a longitudinal wave ?

A

Particle oscillation is in the same direction as energy transfer

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3
Q

What is a standing/stationary wave ?

A
  • 2 waves from fixed points creating a singular wave
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4
Q

What is a node ?

A

Points on a stationary wave that have no displacement

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5
Q

What is an antinode ?

A

Points on a stationary wave that have maximum displacement

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6
Q

What are the criteria for a stationary wave to form ?

A
  • the same frequency
  • similar amplitudes
  • travelling in opposite directions
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7
Q

What happens if polarised light passes through a second polaroid filter at a different angle ?

A

No light passes through

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8
Q

What is an example of polarised light ?

A

3D film glasses -> enhances the viewing experience

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9
Q

How do 3D film glasses work ?

A

Each glass lens is 90° to the other, each eye sees a different image

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10
Q

What is constructive interference?

A

When a peak meets a peak, it creates a peak twice as big

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11
Q

What is destructive interference?

A

When a peak meets a trough, they create a flat surface

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12
Q

What is the first harmonic ?

A

When a standing wave creates half a wavelength

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13
Q

What does the μ stand for in the equation for the first harmonic ?

A

Mass in 1 metre

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14
Q

What is refraction ?

A

Bending of a wave when it changes mediums

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15
Q

What is the normal ?

A

Line at 90° to the boundary between 2 mediums

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16
Q

What is the angle of incident ?

A

Angle between the light coming in and the normal

17
Q

What is the angle of refraction ?

A

Angle between the refracted light and the normal

18
Q

How to find the percentage uncertainty?

A

( uncertainty / value ) x 100

19
Q

What is the refractive index of air ?

A

1.0

20
Q

What happens to wavelength as you go further down the rainbow ?

A

it gets shorter
🟥 🟧 🟨 🟩 🟦 🟪
longest ———————shortest

21
Q

What is the critical angle ?

A

Where the angle of refraction is 90°

22
Q

What happens when the critical angle is more than angle of incidence ?

A

Refraction
small reflection

23
Q

What happens when the critical angle is equal to the angle of incidence ?

A

Refraction at 90°
small reflection

24
Q

What happens when the critical angle is less than angle of incidence ?

A

Total internal reflection, all light reflected

25
Q

What is the use of the cladding in an optic fibre ?

A
  • stop dispersion
  • protect the core (and light leakage)
26
Q

What is light dispersion ?

A

Light of different colours/speed arrive at different times
Overcome by using monochromatic light

27
Q

What is multimode dispersion ?

A

Light at different angles arrives at different times
Reduced by increasing refractive index (and θc)

28
Q

When are sources coherent

A

Constant phase difference between them

29
Q

What is a laser ?

A

Intense beam of monochromatic light

30
Q

What makes light monochromatic ?

A

Single λ
Single frequency
Single colour

31
Q

What are the dangers of laser light and precautions to be taken ?

A

Damage to eyes (intense energy at one point) :
- point at wall/floor and avoid reflective surfaces

32
Q

What does an intensity-distance graph look like ?

A

Wave graph - each oscillation the peak gets smaller but same width apart

33
Q

What happens in the double slit experiment ?

A

Light goes through a double slit and fringes are made from the light on screen

34
Q

when does W = λD/s not work ?

A

When the angle between paths is big/D is not a lot bigger than s

35
Q

What is diffraction ?

A

Bending of waves around an object

36
Q

What happens in the single slit experiment ?

A

When using coherent light through a slit the light interferes with other light and creates fringes

37
Q

What is diffraction grating ?

A

Sending light through many slits at once

Physics Paper 1 (6 decks)

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