Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

GCSE Physics > Waves > Flashcards

Waves Flashcards

1
Q

What do waves transfer?

A

energy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

How do waves travel from one place to another?

A

they oscillate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is the max height of the wave called?

A

amplitude

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is the wavelength?

A

one entire oscillation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are the 2 ways to work out frequency?

A

1/time period
wavespeed/wavelength

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

How do you work out time period?

A

1/frequency

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

How do you work out wavespeed?

A

frequency*wavelength

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

what greek letter represents wavelength?

A

Lamda (λ)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What direction are oscillations in transverse and longitudinal?

A

perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer (T)
parallel to the direction of energy transfer (L)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Example of transverse waves?

A

EM waves

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Examples of longitudinal waves?

A

sound, seismic waves

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What 3 things can happen when a wave hits a surface?

A

absorption, transmission, reflection

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

In reflection, which 2 angles are always equal?

A

angle of incidence = angle of reflection

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the normal?

A

a dashed line that is perpendicular to the surface

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the point of incidence?

A

the point where the incident ray touches the surface

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is specular reflection?

A

when the boundary is flat, so the waves reflects in the same direction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is diffuse reflection?

A

The boundary is bumpy, so the waves reflect in all different direction (because the normal is at different angles)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What type of image will specular reflection produce?

A

a clear image

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

why do waves travel at different speeds through different mediums?

A

different mediums have different density

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is refraction?

A

a wave changing direction when passing from one medium into another

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Which way will the wave bend when it enter a denser medium?

A

towards the normal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Which way will the wave bend when it enter a less dense medium?

A

away from the normal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is the difference between the frequency and wavelength of a wave when it enters another medium?

A

if the wave speeds up the wavelength increase and the frequency stays the same (vice versa)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is the order of the EM spectrum from most ionising to least?

A

gamma rays, x-rays, uv rays, visible light, infrared, microwaves, radio waves

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What 3 things are the same about all EM waves?

A

they are all transverse
they all travel at 3x10^8 m/s in a vacuum
they all can travel through a vacuum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

what is the range of wavelengths for EM waves?

A

10^4m to 10^-15m

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What are the 2 types of lenses?

A

convex (convergent) and concave (divergent)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

What does a convex lens look like and what does it do to light rays?

A

it has a bulge in the middle and curves to meet at corners at the top and bottom. It causes light rays to refract inwards and converge on a point.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

What does a concave lens look like and what does it do to light rays?

A

it is wider on the top and bottom and thin in the middle. It causes light rays to refract outwards so they spread out (diverge).

30
Q

how many principle focuses do lenses have?

A

2, 1 on each side

31
Q

What is the principle axis?

A

the line running through the centre of the lens where no refraction occurs.

32
Q

What is the focal length?

A

the distance between the centre of the lens and the principle focus

33
Q

How does focal length relate to the power of the lens?

A

the shorter the focal length, the more powerful the lens

34
Q

What does a more powerful lens mean?

A

it refracts light more strongly

35
Q

How do you make a lens more powerful?

A

make the lens more curved or make it out of a material that naturally refracts light more strongly

36
Q

Where are images formed?

A

where all the light rays from a particular point on an object, appear to come together

37
Q

What is the difference between a real and virtual image?

A

Real:
light rays actually come together to form image.
image can be captured on the screen
Virtual:
Light rays dont actually come together where the image appears to be.
Cannot be projected on to a screen.

38
Q

What is an example of a virtual image?

A

reflection in a mirror

39
Q

Give 3 examples of uses of ultrasound.

A

industrial imaging
pre natal scanning
sonar

40
Q

What is ultrasound?

A

sound that vibrates at frequencies over 20,000Hz

41
Q

What is the range of human hearing?

A

20-20,000Hz

42
Q

What happens when ultrasound hits the boundary between mediums?

A

some of it is reflected and some is refracted.

43
Q

How does ultrasound work?

A

when the ultrasound waves are fired at an object, some pass through and some are reflected. The same happens every time the waves hit a boundary within the object. If we know the speed of the wave and the time it takes to be reflected, we are able to understand the different layers and boundaries within the object.

44
Q

Is ultrasound harmful?

A

no.

45
Q

What are the 3 types of seismic waves?

A

P, S and L

46
Q

What are 3 differences between p and s waves?

A

p waves are longitudinal and faster and can travel through solids and liquids,
s waves are transvers and slower and can travel through only solids

47
Q

What device is used to detect seismic waves?

A

seismometers

48
Q

Why do the waves curve whilst travelling through the mantle and outer core?

A

the mantle and outer core having varying densities, causing the waves to refract slightly every time, making them curve

49
Q

Can s waves travel through the outer core?

A

no.

50
Q

What is the shadow zone?

A

the area of the earth where no waves reach

51
Q

What causes the shadow zone?

A

the refraction of the waves

52
Q

What 3 things helped prove the existence of a liquid outer core?

A

no s waves were detected opposite the epicentre
p waves were refracted
shadow zone

53
Q

Which of types of electromagnetic waves can be used in communication?

A

Microwaves

Radio waves

54
Q

How can radio waves be created?

A

using an alternating current

55
Q

What 2 things are microwaves used for?

A

satellite communication and microwave ovens

56
Q

Why are radio waves not used for satellite communication?

A

they are reflected by the atmosphere

57
Q

What are optical fibres used for?

A

used to transmit data really quickly over very large distances (halfway around the earth)

58
Q

What can UV rays be used for?

A

Check for ‘invisible markings’ on passports

Give sun tans

Destroy microorganisms in water sterilisation

59
Q

What can infrared radiation be used for?

A

cooking and night vision

60
Q

What can visible light be used for?

A

optical fibres, seeing

61
Q

What is fluorescence?

A

Ultraviolet light energy being absorbed and re-emitted as visible light

62
Q

What are X-rays used for?

A

to view the internal structure of objects, e.g. medical imaging

63
Q

How do we use X-rays to find broken bones?

A

X-rays are fired at the patient
X-rays are absorbed by materials which are very dense, like bones.
X-rays are transmitted through materials which are not very dense, like lungs and intestines.
The X-rays that pass through are detected by a detector plate to form an X-ray image

64
Q

Are X-rays absorbed or reflected by bones?

A

absorbed

65
Q

In hospitals what are gamma rays used for?

A

Perform medical imaging
sterilising medical equipment and food
Treat cancer

66
Q

A green glass bottle appears green because:

A

The bottle reflects and/or transmits green light and absorbs other colours of light.

67
Q

What colours does a blue filter transmit?

A

blue

68
Q

What colours does a yellow filter transmit?

A

red, green and yellow

69
Q

What colours does an indigo filter transmit?

A

red, blue, indigo

70
Q

What happens to the wavelength of radiation emitted by an object if its temperature increases?

A

decreases

71
Q

What happens when sound waves travel from a less dense medium, to a more dense medium?

A

speed increases

72
Q
A

GCSE Physics (9 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions