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Term 2, 2024 Science Exam > Waves > Flashcards

Waves Flashcards

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1
Q

What are waves?

A

Waves are oscillations (or vibrations) that cause the transfer of energy.

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2
Q

Do oscillations occur around one fixed point?

A

Yes, oscillations occur around a fixed point, while the wave energy moves in a particular direction.

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3
Q

What are the two types of waves?

A
  1. Mechanical Waves
  2. Electromagnetic Waves
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4
Q

Which type of wave requires a medium?

A

Mechanical waves require a medium (solid, liquid, gas), however electromagnetic waves do not require a medium.

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5
Q

Which type of wave can travel through a vacuum?

A

Electromagnetic waves can travel through a vacuum, solid, liquid and gas, but mechanical waves cannot travel through a vacuum.

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6
Q

What are examples of mechanical waves?

A

Sound waves, seismic waves, water waves, moving objects (Rope and slinky)

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7
Q

What are examples of electromagnetic waves?

A

Radio waves, micro waves, light waves, visible light, ultraviolet radiation, x-ray, gamma waves

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8
Q

What do mechanical waves require?

A

Mechanical waves require a disturbance of the medium which causes particles to vibrate.

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9
Q

What do electromagnetic waves require?

A

Electromagnetic waves require a source that generates electromagnetic oscillations.

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10
Q

What is wave motion?

A

Waves can involve different types of oscillations (vibrations); there are two main types of wave motion.

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11
Q

What are the two main types of wave motion?

A

Transverse Waves and Longitudinal Waves

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12
Q

What are transverse waves?

A

Transverse waves are oscillations perpendicular to the direction of the wave.

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13
Q

What are examples of transverse waves?

A

All electromagnetic waves and waves caused by a rope moving up and down.

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14
Q

What are longitudinal waves?

A

Longitudinal waves are oscillations travelling in the same direction to the direction of the wave.

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15
Q

What is an example of a longitudinal wave?

A

Sound waves

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16
Q

What are surface waves?

A

In surface waves, oscillations are circular. These can be considered as a hybrid between transverse and longitudinal waves.

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17
Q

Where do surface waves occur?

A

Surface waves occur at the interface of two different media.

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18
Q

What are examples of surface waves?

A

Waves in water (although these are often incorrectly described as transverse waves) and seismic surface waves.

19
Q

What are the different parts of a wave?

A

Amplitude, wavelength, trough, crest and resting position.

20
Q

What is amplitude?

A

Amplitude is the distance between the original starting position and the maximum point of oscillation.

21
Q

What is wavelength?

A

Wavelength is the distance from a crest/trough of a wave to the crest/trough of the next wave.

22
Q

What is the unit for wavelength?

A

metres (m)

23
Q

What is frequency?

A

Frequency is the number of waves passing a point every second.

24
Q

What is the unit for frequency?

A

Hertz (Hz)

25
Q

What is velocity?

A

Velocity is how fast a wave transmits energy through space.

26
Q

What is resting position?

A

Resting position is the position where the wave settles down when there is no power being carried through it.

27
Q

What is the crest?

A

The crest is the highest point of oscillation.

28
Q

What is the trough?

A

The trough is the lowest point of oscillation.

29
Q

Are frequency and wavelength inversely proportional?

A

Yes, frequency and wavelength are inversely proportional, which means that the higher the frequency, the shorter the wavelength.

30
Q

What does EMS stand for?

A

Electromagnetic spectrum

31
Q

What are some examples of EMS?

A

Micro waves, sound waves, x-ray, radio waves, ultraviolet waves and gamma waves.

32
Q

How are EM waves similar to ocean waves?

A

They both transmit energy, and they both have a crest and a trough.

33
Q

How are EM waves produced?

A

Oscillation (vibration) of charged particles.

34
Q

What properties do EM waves have?

A

Electromagnetic waves involve vibrations of electric and magnetic fields; an electric field and a magnetic field oscillating together.

35
Q

At what speed do EM waves travel through space?

A

EM waves travel at the constant speed of light through space.

36
Q

How long can a wavelength be?

A

The length of wave can be very long but many are very short.

37
Q

What is the difference between long EM waves and short EM waves?

A

Long EM waves have the lowest frequency and carry less energy, whereas gamma waves are the shortest and have the highest energy in the spectrum.

38
Q

What is the effect of adding energy on the frequency of a wave?

A

Adding energy increases the frequency of a wave and makes the wavelength shorter.

39
Q

What is the visible light spectrum?

A

The section of the electromagnetic spectrum that is the visible light (the human eye can see). This is between 400 and 700 nanometres.

40
Q

What happens to visible light waves when they interact with objects?

A

EM waves interact with the object’s molecules, creating colour. Some waves reflect off the object, but others are absorbed.

41
Q

What is a spectral signature?

A

Everything around us emits, reflects and absorbs EM radiation differently based on its composition. A graph showing these interactions across a region of the EM spectrum is called a spectral signature.

42
Q

What is the lowest energy end of the EM spectrum?

A

At the lowest energy end of the spectrum are radio waves, which have the longest wavelength and the lowest frequency.

43
Q

What is the highest energy end of the EM spectrum?

A

At the highest energy end of the spectrum are gamma rays, which have the shortest wavelength and the highest frequency.

44
Q

Does the higher the energy of the electromagnetic radiation, mean the greater penetration of matter?

A

Yes, the higher the energy of the electromagnetic radiation, the greater the penetration of matter (ability to penetrate objects).

Term 2, 2024 Science Exam (3 decks)

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