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Physics > Waves > Flashcards

Waves Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a wave?

A

a transfer of energy from one point to another

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2
Q

name the two types of waves and there definitions

A
  • Mechanical waves ~ waves that vibrate through a medium (a substance)
  • Electromagnetic waves ~ waves which can travel through a vacuum (no medium is needed)
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3
Q

transverse wave

A

The oscillations of a transverse wave are perpendicular to the direction in which the waves transfer energy

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4
Q

longitudinal wave

A

The oscillations of a longitudinal wave are parallel to the distance in which the waves transfer energy

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5
Q

what type of waves are electromagnetic waves

A
  • transverse
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6
Q

what type of waves are mechanical waves

A
  • transverse
  • longitudinal
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7
Q

What is amplitude?

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

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

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9
Q

what is frequency?

A

number of waves passing a fixed point per second

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10
Q

What is the frequency equation?

A

Period (seconds) = 1/frequency

T (s) = 1/F (Hz)

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11
Q

What is wave speed?

A

distance travelled by each wave per second

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12
Q

What is the wave speed equation?

A

Wave speed = frequency x wavelength

V (m/s) = f (Hz) x λ (m)

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13
Q

What are sound waves?

A

Vibrations that travel through a medium

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14
Q

What are ultrasound waves?

A

waves above the frequency of 20kH^2 (20000H^2)

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15
Q

What is the equation for distance?

A

Distance = speed x time

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16
Q

How are seismic waves produced?

A

They are produced in an earthquake. They spread out from the epicentre

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17
Q

What is the epicenter?

A

The nearest point on the surface to where the earthquake originates.

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18
Q

What types of waves do earthquakes create?

A
  • primary seismic waves (P-waves) that are longitudinal
  • secondary seismic waves (S-waves) that are transverse
19
Q

How fast do electromagnetic waves travel in a vacuum?

A

3x10^8m/s

20
Q

List the electromagnetic spectrum in stating the order of increasing frequency and increasing wavelength

A

increasing frequency —->
Radio ~ Microwave ~ Infrared ~ visible ~ ultraviolet ~ x-ray ~ gamma
<—-increasing wavelength

21
Q

uses of infrared

A
  • optical fibers
  • remote controls
  • ovens
  • thermal imaging
22
Q

Uses of microwaves

A
  • Navigation
  • cooking
  • drying
  • mobile phones
23
Q

uses of visible light

A
  • photosynthesis
  • optical fibers
  • torches
  • cameras
24
Q

What are gamma rays 2 main uses

A
  • killing harmful bacteria in food or on surgical equipment
  • cancer treatment
25
Q

What is the main use of x-rays

A

medical imaging

26
Q

What is ionisation?

A

When an atom loses an electron. One cause of this is x-rays or gamma rays passing through a substance. If ionisation happens to living cells it can damage cells and potentially cause cancer

27
Q

How can x-rays be blocked?

A
  • bones
  • teeth
    -metal inside body
28
Q

How can you x-ray soft tissue organs?

A

By filling them with a contrast medium that absorbs x-rays

29
Q

define peak

A

highest point above the rest position

30
Q

define trough

A

lowest point

31
Q

Explain the changes in air pressure caused by longitudinal waves in regions of compression and rarefaction.

A
  • compression ~ the air particles are close together resulting in high pressure
  • rarefaction ~ air particles are spread further apart leading to low pressure
32
Q

approximate range of wavelengths

A

10^-15 m – 10^4 m

33
Q

what is the only part of the electromagnetic spectrum that our eyes can detect?

A

visible light

34
Q

from the electromagnetic spectrum, give the name and use of a radiation of lower frequency than light

A
  • microwave
  • cooking
35
Q

name 3 types of electromagnetic spectrum radiation which has more energy than infrared

A
  • visible light
  • x-ray
  • gamma ray
36
Q
  1. the wavelength of infrared is… the wavelength of microwaves
  2. the frequency of microwaves is… the frequency of infrared
  3. the speed of microwave in a vacuum is… the speed of infrared in a vacuum
A
  1. less than
  2. less than
  3. the same as
37
Q

X-rays can be dangerous to people because X-rays are… radiation

A

ionising

38
Q

a student finds it difficult to measure ripples on the surface of some water in a ripple tank because the ripples are moving. Suggest and explain what the student could do to make the measurement easier.

A
  • student can use strobe light
  • when the strobe light matches the length of the waves the waves fronts will appear stationary
39
Q

uses of ultrasound

A
  • breaking kidney stones
  • cleaning jewellery
40
Q

describe how the wavelength of the water waves in a ripple tank can be measured accurately

A

measure length of the number of waves then divide by the number of the waves

41
Q

state the name given to reflected sound waves

A

echo

42
Q

state one industrial use for ultrasound

A

cleaning

43
Q

state one medical use for ultrasound

A

pre-natal scanning

Physics (9 decks)

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