Waves Flashcards
WHAT ARE WAVES FOR
Waves transfer energy and carry signals.
WHAT IS A TRANSVERSE WAVE
Particle vibrations are perpendicular to the energy transfer. eg. electromagnetic radiation and water waves
Crest - highest point of the wave.
Trough - lowest point of the wave.
Amplitude - distance from the mean position to the crest or trough.
Wavelength - the distance from one part of the wave to the next where it begins to repeat itself.
Mean position - middle of the wave.
WHAT IS A LONGITUDINAL WAVE
Partial vibrations are in the same direction as the energy transfer.
Wavelength - Compression to compression, refraction to refraction.
Compression - where the particle are compressed.
Refraction - where the particle are spread out.
WHAT IS FREQUENCY
The number of waves to pass a point in one second (Hertz)
WHAT IS PERIOD
The time for a wave to travel one wavelength (seconds).
WHAT IS WAVESPEED
The distance travelled by a wave in 1 second (metres per second)
TRANSMISSION OF SOUND
For sound to be produced, an object must vibrate. Sound is carried from one place to another by vibrating particles. Sound can not travel through a vaccum as there is no particle, a solid, liquid or gas is required for sound to be transmitted.
EXPERIMENT TO MEASURE THE SPEED OF SOUND
- Produce a sound with a hammer.
- When the sound wave passes microphone A, it will start the clock on the electronic timer.
- When the sound wave reaches microphone B, the electronic timer will switch off.
- The distance between both microphones is measured.
- The distance is the measured in metres (must be atleast 1 metre) and is divided by the time on the timer.
WHAT IS THE RANGE OF HUMAN HEARING
20 - 20 000 Hz
ECHO SOUNDING
This is a type on sonar navigation to determine the depth of water by transmitting sound waves into the water. Then the time between emission and return is recorded and halved. Then the formula d=vt is used.
ULTRASOUND
Ultrasound is a high frequency sound (above the range of human hearing) used to monitor fetus’ and detect blood flow in heart, arteries and veins. A layer of jelly is placed between the transducer and skin to exclude all air and make good contact with the skin so that the waves don’t reflect. The waves reflect off of the fetus and build up an image of it.
WHAT IS DIFFRACTION
Diffraction is when a wave passes round a bend or through a gap and bends.
The amount of diffraction through a gap depends on the size of the gap or the wavelength. If the gap is the same width or smaller than the wavelength, the waves are circular.
Around an object, longer wavelengths diffract more than shorter wavelengths. Example: Some radio waves have a long enough wavelength to diffract over a hill and reach house aerials.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTURM
They travel at the speed of light, they don’t need particles of matter in order to travel. The higher the frequency the greater the energy. They are all transverse waves. The frequency gets higher as it goes along.
ORDER OF THE ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM
Radio and TV, Microwave, Infra red, Visible light, Ultraviolet, X-rays, Gamma rays.
(RADIO AND TV) SOURCE, APPLICATION, DETECTORS AND POTENTIAL HAZARDS
Source: Electrical aerial, radio transmitter.
Application: Radio broadcasting, telecommunications.
Detectors: Aerial and reciever.
Potential hazards: Increased cancer risk