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Physics - Paper 2 > Waves > Flashcards

Waves Flashcards

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1
Q

what is a transverse wave

A

oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer

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2
Q

what is a longitudinal wave

A

oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer

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3
Q

example of a transverse wave

A

electromagnetic waves

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4
Q

example of a longitudinal wave

A

sound waves

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5
Q

what is a compression

A

area in longitudinal waves where the particles are squashed closer together

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6
Q

what is a rarefaction

A

area in longitudinal waves where the particles are pulled further apart

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7
Q

what is the amplitude of a wave

A

maximum displacement of a point on the wave from its undisturbed position

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8
Q

what is the wavelength of a wave

A

distance from a point on one wave to the equivalent point on the adjacent wave

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9
Q

what is the frequency of a wave

A

number of waves passing a fixed point per second

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10
Q

what property of a wave always stays the same when it travels from one medium to another

A

frequency

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11
Q

what rule do waves follow when they reflect off a surface

A

angle of incidence = angle of reflection

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12
Q

what happens when waves are transmitted at a boundary between two substances

A

they carry on moving at a different speed

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13
Q

what happens when waves are absorbed by a substance

A

energy of the wave are transferred to energy stores of the substance

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14
Q

explain why EM waves are not mechanical waves

A

they can travel through a vacuum

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15
Q

what do EM waves transfer from their source to an absorber

A

energy

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16
Q

list the different types of waves in the EM spectrum in order of decreasing wavelength

A

radio, micro, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-rays and gamma

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17
Q

which part of the EM spectrum can humans see

A

visible light

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18
Q

how can electromagnetic waves be produced

A

changes inside an atom nucleus

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19
Q

how are gamma rays produced

A

oscillations in an electrical circuit

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20
Q

how can we detect radio waves

A

waves are absorbed and create an alternating current with the same frequency as the radio wave

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21
Q

what are radio waves used for

A

transmitting television, mobile phone and bluetooth signals

22
Q

what are microwaves used for

A

satellite communications, cooking foods

23
Q

what is infrared radiation used for

A

heating, remote controls, infrared cameras and cooking food

24
Q

which types of EM are harmful to the human body

A

UV, X-rays and gamma

25
Q

what are the hazards of being exposed to UV radiation

A

damage skin cells, sunburn, increases risk of skin cancer and skin age prematurely

26
Q

why are X-rays used in medical imaging

A

they pass through flesh but not bone

27
Q

why are gamma rays used fro treating cancer and sterilising medical equipment

A

high dose kills cells and bacteria

28
Q

what is refraction

A

waves change speed and direction as they cross the boundary from one substance to another due to the change in velocity

29
Q

what happens to the direction of a refracted EM wave when it slows down as it crosses the boundary from one substance to another

A

bends towards the normal

30
Q

why are sound waves mechanical

A

need a substance to travel through

31
Q

what do sound waves do tot he ear drum and other solid parts of the human ear

A

make them vibrate

32
Q

why is there a limit to the range of human hearing

A

conversion of sound waves in air to vibrations in ear only works at a limited range of frequencies

33
Q

what is the frequency range of normal human hearing

A

20 - 20 000 Hz

34
Q

what are ultrasound waves

A

sound waves with a frequency above 20 000 Hz

35
Q

what happens to ultrasound waves when they meet a boundary between 2 substances

A

partially reflected and some are transmitted

36
Q

what is echo sounding used for

A

detecting objects in deep water, measuring the depth of water

37
Q

what are the properties of P waves

A

longitudinal, travel through liquids and solids

38
Q

what are the properties of S waves

A

transvers, cannot travel through liquids

39
Q

which observation suggests that the outer core of the earth must be liquid

A

S waves are not detected on the opposite side of the earth

40
Q

what is the difference between a concave and convex lens

A

convex bulges out in the middle, concave is thinner in the middle than at the edges

41
Q

what does a convex lens do to parallel rays of light

A

light converges at principle focus

42
Q

what does a concave lens do to parallel rays of light

A

light diverges so they appear to have come from the principle focus

43
Q

what s the focal length of a lens

A

distance from the centre of the lens to the principle focus

44
Q

what kind of images do concave and convex lenses produce

A

concave = virtual, convex = real or virtual

45
Q

what properties do all EM waves of the same colour share

A

same range of wavelengths and frequencies

46
Q

what 4 things can happen to visible light when it hits an object

A

transmitted, absorbed, reflected or refracted

47
Q

what is the difference between specular and diffuse reflection

A

specular = reflection from smooth surface, diffuse = reflection from rough surface

48
Q

what words describe an object that transmits visible light

A

transparent or translucent

49
Q

why does an object appear opaque

A

does not transmit visible light - absorbs and reflects

50
Q

how do colour filters work

A

absorb certain wavelengths of light, transmit others

Physics - Paper 2 (4 decks)

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