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Physics Paper 2 > Waves > Flashcards

Waves Flashcards

1
Q

What are the two types of waves? (W Ph)

A

Transverse and Longitudinal

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2
Q

What do waves do in terms of transfer? (W Ph)

A

They transfer energy from one place to the other.

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3
Q

Which part travels? (W Ph)

A
  • It is the wave that travels not the medium (air, water, solid)
  • The slinky experiment. The slinky oscillates up and down or side to side but the actual coils don’t move. So the waves don’t permanently move the particles but they do vibrate temporarily.
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4
Q

What is the movement of oscillation in comparison to the direction of energy transfer for a transverse wave? (W Ph)

A

The oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer.

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5
Q

How do the oscillations move in a transverse waves? (W Ph)

A

Up and down

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6
Q

What is the direction of energy transfer in transverse waves? (W Ph)

A

Sideways

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7
Q

What is the movement of oscillation in comparison to the direction of energy transfer for a longitudinal wave? (W Ph)

A

The oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer.

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8
Q

What is the direction of energy transfer in longitudinal waves? (W Ph)

A

Sideways

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9
Q

How do the oscillations move in a longitudinal waves? (W Ph)

A

Side to side

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10
Q

What is an example of transverse waves and what type of force does it carry? (W Ph)

A

Ripples on the surface of the water + kinetic energy

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11
Q

What is an example of a longitudinal wave and what type of force does it carry? (W Ph)

A

Sound waves travelling in air + sound energy.

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12
Q

What do longitudinal waves require? (W Ph)

A

A medium to travel in (air, liquid, solid)

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13
Q

What are the regions called in a longitudinal wave where the air particles are very close together? (W Ph)

A

Compressions

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14
Q

What are the regions called in a longitudinal wave where the air particles are far away together? (W Ph)

A

Rarefractions

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15
Q

What can waves do at the boundary between two different materials? (RoW W Ph)

A

They can be reflected. E.g sound wave reflections cause echoes

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16
Q

What does the law of reflection state? (RoW W Ph)

A

Angle of incidence = angle of reflection

17
Q

What an example of the law of reflection? (RoW W Ph)

A

If a light ray hits at 32 degrees then it will be reflected at 32 degrees

18
Q

Where are the angles of incidence and reflection measured between? (RoW W Ph)

A

The light ray and the normal

19
Q

What is the normal? (RoW W Ph)

A

An imaginary line at 90 degrees to the surface.

20
Q

What is the incident ray? (RoW W Ph)

A

The ray going towards a surface. Aka a light/ sound ray hitting a mirror.

21
Q

What is the reflected ray? (RoW W Ph)

A

The ray that bounces off of a surface.

22
Q

What is a specular reflection? (RoW W Ph)

A

Reflection from a smooth, flat surface.

23
Q

What is the image in a mirror both? (RoW W Ph)

A
  • upright
  • virtual
24
Q

What is a virtual image? (RoW W Ph)

A

An image from which rays of light appear to come but do not do so in reality.

25
Q

What is Diffuse reflection? (RoW W Ph)

A

When a surface is rough, diffuse reflection happens. Instead of forming an image, the reflected light is scattered in all directions. It may cause a distorted image of an object, as occurs in rippleing water or no image. Each individual reflection still obeys the law.

26
Q

What is rafraction? (ReoW W Ph)

A

The process by which a wave changes speed and sometimes direction upon entering a denser or less dense medium. E.g light ray changes direction when refracted by a lens

27
Q

How does rafraction cause optical illusions? (ReoW W Ph)

A

The light waves appear to come from a different position to their actual source

28
Q

What does the density mean for the speed of a wave transmitting through it? (ReoW W Ph)

A

In general the denser the transparent material the more slowly light travels through it.

29
Q

What happens when a light ray travels from a less dense material to a more dense material? (ReoW W Ph)

A

The light ray slows down. If the ray meets the boundary at an angle to the normal, it bends towards the normal.

30
Q

What is the acronym for remembering how the ray changes going from dense to less dense (ReoW W Ph)

A

FAST
faster - away from the normal
Slower - towards the normal

31
Q

What is frequency? (ReoW W Ph)

A

The number of waves produced each second. The unit of frequency is hertz

32
Q

What is the relationship between wavelength and wave speed for a given frequency of light? (ReoW W Ph)

A

Wavelength is proportional to the wave speed

33
Q

Equation for wave speed (ReoW W Ph)

A

= frequency x wavelength

Physics Paper 2 (2 decks)

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