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Physics paper 1 > Waves > Flashcards

Waves Flashcards

1
Q

longitudinal wave

A

particles oscillation is parallel to direction of wave propagation

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2
Q

examples of longitudinal waves

A

sound waves, seismic waves

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3
Q

transverse wave

A

particle oscillation is perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation, only transverse waves can be polarised

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4
Q

examples of a transverse wave

A

electromagnetic radiation

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5
Q

particle displacement

A

the distance of a particle from its equilibrium position in given direction

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6
Q

amplitude

A

the maximum displacement of a particle from its equilibrium position

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7
Q

wave speed

A

frequency x wavelength

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8
Q

phase

A

the position of a certain point along a wave cycle

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9
Q

phase difference

A

the amount one wave lags behind another in radians

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10
Q

frequency

A

number of oscillations of a particle per second

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11
Q

time period

A

the time taken for one complete oscillation

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12
Q

wavelength

A

shortest distance between two point in phase

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13
Q

wavelength for stationary wave

A

distance between alternate nodes or distance from peak to peak/ trough to trough

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14
Q

diffraction

A

the spreading out of a wave (when it passes through a gap or past the edge of an object

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15
Q

refraction

A

wave bends/ changes diffraction when entering a media with a different RI due to changing speed.

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16
Q

polarisation

A

when a transverse wave only oscillates in one plane

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17
Q

application of polarisation in sunglasses

A
  • light reflected from surfaces is weakly polarised in one plane
  • polaroid in sunglasses can be orientated at a certain angle to remove this reflected light reducing the glare
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18
Q

application of polarisation in tv transmitters and aerials

A
  • signals from tv transmitter are polarised
  • aerials need to be orientated so they are in the same plane as the transmitted signal for maximum strength
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19
Q

superposition

A

where two or more waves meet, the resultant displacement equals the vector sum of the individual displacements

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20
Q

conditions for formation of stationary waves

A
  • two waves travelling past each other in opposite directions
  • with the same wavelength and frequency
  • similar amplitudes and oscillating in the same plane
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21
Q

monochromatic

A

single wavelength

22
Q

safety with a laser

A
  • avoid looking along the beam of a laser
  • wear laser safety goggles
  • avoid reflections
  • put up a warning sign that a laser is in use
23
Q

properties of laser light

A
  • monochromatic - single wavelength
  • coherent - waves have a constant phase difference and the same wavelength/frequency
  • collimated - produces an approximately parallel beam
24
Q

Stationary wave formation in a microwave

A
  • waves travelling from the transmitter reflect off the walls of the microwave.
  • the waves from the transmitter are oscillating in the opposite direction but the same plane as the reflected waves with the same frequency and wavelength hence form a stationary wave.
24
frequency of 1st harmonic
f=1/2l x (T/µ)½
25
wavelength of stationary waves for first 4 harmonics
length of string = L 1st harmonic: λ = 2 L 2nd harmonic: λ = L 3rd harmonic: λ = 2/3 L 4th harmonic: λ = 1/2 L
26
mass per unit length
µ = mass/length = density x Area
27
the difference in resonant frequency due to altering the properties of the string
longer string = lower resonant frequency as half wavelength is longer heavier string = lower resonant frequency as waves travel slower lower string = lower resonant frequency as waves travel slower
28
nodes and antinodes
nodes - points of no oscillation / zero amplitude antinodes - points of maximum amplitude
29
path difference
the extra distance travelled by one wave than another resulting in constructive or destructive interference
30
coherent sources
waves from two sources that have: - constant phase difference - same wavelength and frequency
31
explanation of formation of fringes with Young's slit
- the light from the two slits is coherent as the slits are an equal distance from the light source and the light is coherent as it is filtered so has the same wavelength and zero phase difference - interference fringes are formed where the light from the two slits overlaps - bright fringes are formed by constructive interference because light from the two slits are in phase - dark fringes formed by destructive interference because light from the two slits is in anti-phase
32
appearance of interference fringes from two vertical slit illuminated with yellow light
- vertical or parallel - equally spaced - black and yellow bands
33
fringe width changes
- slits closer together - w increases - screen further away - w increases - shorter wavelength - w decreases
34
width of slits is reduced
fringe separation increases as s decreases
35
appearance of white light trough Young's slits
- central fringe is white - side fringes are continuous spectra - bright fringe would be blue on the side nearest the central fringes and red furthest away due to difference in λ - bright fringes merge furtehr away from centre. fringes are of equal width but the central fringe is the brightest by far
36
appearance of diffraction pattern from a single slit
- central bright fringe has twice width of other bright fringes - the other bright fringes have a much lower intensity and are equally spaced
37
single slit pattern changes
narrower slit width = wider pattern/ increased separation and reduced intensity shorter wavelength = narrower pattern/ reduced separation and greater intensity
38
lines per mm of a grating
spacing, d, of slits on a diffraction grating given by d = 1/number of lines per mm. Units: mm
39
derivation of nλ = dsinθ
between slits a and b: - path difference to nth maximum = nλ - from trigonometry sinθ = nλ/d
40
applications of gratings to spectral analysis of light from stars
- dark lines in spectrum from a star - reveal the composition of elements present in the start's atmosphere
41
how does light change moving from air to glass
- speed- decreases - wavelength - decreases - frequency - remains constant
42
conditions for total internal reflection
- angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle - the refractive index of the material light is going from is greater than the refractive index of the material the light is going to
43
total internal reflection
when all the light is reflected back into the material
44
critical angle
angle of incidence which produces an angle of refraction of 90 degrees
45
Structure of an optical fibre
Central core, surrounded by cladding. Refractive index of core must be greater than refractive index of cladding (to ensure total internal reflection)
46
purpose of cladding
- prevents crossover of signal/data to other fibres - prevents scratching of the core - reduces pulse broadening/ dispersion
47
use of optical fibres
- communication - improve transmission of data/high speed internet - endoscopes - improved medical diagnosis
48
how do pulses of light change travelling down optical fibres
- reduced amplitude due to absorption/ energy loss and scattering within fibre - pulse broadening due to multipath dispersion from rays taking different paths and different times to travel down same fiber
49
how is multipath dispersion reduced
core of fibre is made very narrow/thin and the signal is regenerated every so often

Physics paper 1 (5 decks)

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