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Physics > Waves > Flashcards

Waves Flashcards

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1
Q

Amplitude

A

A wave’s maximum displacement from its equilibrium position.

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2
Q

Antinodes

A

A position of maximum displacement in a stationary wave.

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3
Q

Coherence

A

Waves with the same frequency and constant phase difference

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4
Q

Constructive Interference

A
  • The type of interference that occurs when two waves meet in phase.
  • The wave amplitudes are superposed.
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5
Q

Critical Angle

A
  • The angle of incidence that results in an angle of refraction of exactly 90 degrees .
  • It is when the refracted ray travels along the boundary line.
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6
Q

Destructive Interference

A
  • The type of interference that occurs when the two waves are in antiphase is called destructive interference.
  • When one wave is at a peak and the other is at a trough, their addition results in a minimum point.
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7
Q

Diffraction

A

The spreading of waves as they pass through a gap of a similar magnitude to their wavelength.

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8
Q

Displacement

A

The distance that a point on a wave is from its equilibrium
position

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9
Q

Electromagnetic Waves

A
  • Electromagnetic waves consist of perpendicular electric and magnetic oscillations.
  • All electromagnetic waves travel at the speed of light in a vacuum.
  • They can also be polarised since they are transverse waves.
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10
Q

Fundamental Mode of Vibration
(1st Harmonic)

A
  • The oscillation of a wave at its natural
    frequency.

Node to Node in closed tube
Anti-node to anti-node in open tube

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11
Q

Intensity

A

The power transferred per unit area.

I ∝ A2

I I
— = —
A2 A2

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12
Q

Interference

A

The superposition of the amplitudes of waves when they meet.

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13
Q

Nodes

A

position of minimum displacement in a stationary wave.

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14
Q

Path Difference

A

A measure of how far ahead a wave is compared to another wave, usually expressed in terms of the wavelength.

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15
Q

Phase Difference

A
  • The difference in phase between two points on a wave.
  • It is usually expressed in radians.
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16
Q

Polarisation

A
  • The restriction of a wave so that it can only oscillate in a single plane.
  • This can only occur for transverse waves.
17
Q

Progressive Waves

A

Waves that transfer energy from one point to another without a transfer of matter.

18
Q

Reflection

A
  • The bouncing of a wave at a boundary
  • The angle of incidence will equal to the angle of reflection
19
Q

Refraction

A
  • The changing of speed of a wave as it passes into a new medium.
  • If it passes into an optically denser medium, it will slow down
20
Q

Refractive Index

A

A material property that is equal to the ratio between the speed of light in a vacuum, and the speed of light in a given material.

21
Q

Stationary Wave

A

A wave that stores, but does not transfer, energy.

22
Q

Superposition

A
  • When two waves meet at the same point in space, their displacements combine
  • The total displacement at that point becomes the sum of the individual displacements at that point.
23
Q

Total Internal Reflection

A
  • The effect is called total internal reflection (TIR) and occurs in optical fibers.
  • Full reflection occurs at the inside boundary of the fiber, preventing radiation from passing out.
  • TIR happens when the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle.
  • TIR only occurs when light is in the more dense medium and approaching the less dense medium.
24
Q

Maxima

A

Constructive interference that occurs
at any point where the path difference is a whole number of wavelengths.

25
Q

Minima

A

Destructive interference occurring at points where the path difference is half a wavelength, one and a half wavelengths, two and a half wavelengths, etc.

26
Q

Optical density

A
  • The property of a medium that describes how fast light travels through it is called refractive index.
  • The more optically dense a material is, the more light slows down when it enters it.
  • Refractive index is a measure of this property.
27
Q

Plane polarised wave

A

A wave in which all the vibrations are
in one direction or plane.

28
Q

Optical fibre

A

Total internal reflection in optical fibers for digital signal transmission.
Core with higher refractive index, surrounded by cladding, confines light pulses.
Small core diameter ensures total internal reflection, even around corners.

Optical fibers surpass copper cables due to:
Higher information transmission capacity with light pulses.
Lack of warming during operation, no electrical resistance.
Immunity to external electric and magnetic fields, as light pulses are not charged particles.

29
Q

Electromagnetic spectrum

A
  • Electromagnetic spectrum categories: radio waves (radios), microwaves (cooking), infrared (IR) (goggles), visible light , ultraviolet (UV) (sunbed), X-rays , gamma rays (sterilisation).
  • Frequency increases, wavelength decreases further up list
  • High frequency means more ionising (dangerous)
  • High wavelength means it can diffract more (like around hills)
30
Q

How is the intensity of a spherical wave calculated?

A
  • If the wave originates from a point and spreads out equally in all directions, at a radius of r metres, the area covered is 4πr²
  • Thus the Intensity = Power/4πr²
  • Therefore the intensity also follows an inverse square law so I α 1/r²
31
Q

Monochromatic radiation

A

Electromagnetic wave with only one frequency.

32
Q

Resonance

A
  • If the applied frequency is close to the natural frequency, resonance will occur, and the amplitude will be at a maximum.
  • If the applied frequency is different from the natural frequency, the amplitude will be reduced to almost nothing.
33
Q

Frequency

A

The number of overall complete cycles appearing in specific time

34
Q

Period

A

The duration in which a wave cycle is completed in unit time.

35
Q

Path difference and phase difference formula

A
  • distance between waves ÷ wavelength or time difference between waves ÷ time period
    (This will give path difference)
  • Multipy by 2π
    (This gives phase difference)
36
Q

Red Vs Blue light

A

Blue light has a short wavelength;red light a longer wavelength
Blue will refract more

Physics (7 decks)

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