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IGCSE Edexcel Physics Combined (Paper 1) > Waves > Flashcards

Waves Flashcards

1
Q

What do waves transfer without transferring matter?

A

Energy and information

Waves consist of oscillating particles that move about a fixed point.

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2
Q

What are the characteristics of transverse waves?

A

Have peaks and troughs; vibrations are at right angles to the direction of travel

An example of a transverse wave is light.

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3
Q

What are the characteristics of longitudinal waves?

A

Consist of compressions and rarefactions; vibrations are in the same direction as the direction of travel

An example of a longitudinal wave is sound.

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4
Q

What is amplitude in wave properties?

A

The distance from the equilibrium position to the maximum displacement

Amplitude reflects the energy of the wave.

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5
Q

What is a wavefront?

A

A line joining points on a wave at the same point in their wave cycle at a given time

Wavefronts help visualize the propagation of waves.

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6
Q

Define frequency in the context of waves.

A

The number of waves that pass a single point per second

Frequency is measured in Hertz (Hz).

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7
Q

What is wavelength?

A

The distance between a point on one wave and the same point on the next wave

Wavelength is often denoted by the Greek letter lambda (λ).

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8
Q

What does the time period of a wave refer to?

A

The time taken for one complete wave to pass a fixed point

Time period is the inverse of frequency.

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9
Q

What is the formula for the speed of a wave?

A

speed = frequency x wavelength

This relationship shows how speed, frequency, and wavelength are interrelated.

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10
Q

How is frequency related to the time period?

A

frequency = 1 / time period

Frequency is measured in Hertz (Hz).

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11
Q

What happens to waves when they travel from a medium of low optical density to one of higher optical density?

A

They can be reflected

The law of reflection states that angle of incidence = angle of reflection.

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12
Q

What remains unchanged during the reflection of waves?

A

Frequency, wavelength, and speed

Reflection occurs without altering these wave properties.

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13
Q

What occurs during the refraction of waves?

A

The speed of a wave changes when it enters a new medium

Refraction involves bending of waves based on medium density.

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14
Q

What happens to a wave’s speed when it enters a denser medium?

A

Its speed decreases and it bends towards the normal

This is due to the change in optical density.

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15
Q

What happens to a wave’s speed when it enters a less dense medium?

A

Its speed increases and it bends away from the normal

This bending is a result of the change in optical density.

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16
Q

Fill in the blank: The angle of incidence equals the _______ during reflection.

A

angle of reflection

This principle is fundamental in understanding wave behavior.

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17
Q

What stays the same in electromagnetic waves while the wavelength changes?

A

Frequency

The frequency remains constant while the wavelength varies, leading to a change in velocity.

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18
Q

List the main groups of the electromagnetic spectrum in order of decreasing wavelength.

A
  • Radio
  • Microwave
  • Infrared
  • Visible
  • Ultraviolet
  • X-Ray
  • Gamma Ray

The visible spectrum colors are ROYGBIV (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet).

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19
Q

What is the speed of electromagnetic waves in a vacuum?

A

The same high speed

All electromagnetic waves travel at approximately the same speed in air as well.

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20
Q

What are radio waves primarily used for?

A

Radio and television communications

Radio waves have long wavelengths and are reflected by the ionosphere.

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21
Q

What applications do microwaves have?

A
  • Satellite transmissions
  • Cooking

Microwaves can penetrate deep into food due to their greater frequency.

22
Q

What is infrared radiation used for?

A

Heaters and night vision equipment

23
Q

In what applications is visible light utilized?

A
  • Fibre optics
  • Photography
24
Q

What is ultraviolet light used for?

A

Fluorescent lamps

25
Q

What are X-rays used for?

A
  • Medical imaging
  • Security

X-rays can penetrate materials easily due to their short wavelength and high frequency.

26
Q

What is gamma radiation used for?

A

Sterilising food and medical equipment

27
Q

What hazard is associated with microwaves?

A

Internal heating of body tissues

28
Q

What can infrared radiation cause?

A

Skin burns

29
Q

What are the risks of ultraviolet light exposure?

A
  • Increases risk of skin cancer
  • Risk of blindness

Sun cream and sunglasses can help prevent over-exposure to UV light.

30
Q

What type of radiation are X-rays and gamma rays classified as?

A

Ionising radiation

31
Q

What can ionising radiation cause?

A

Mutations leading to cancer

32
Q

How should exposure to X-rays and gamma rays be minimized?

A

Using protective shielding made of very dense materials such as lead

33
Q

What type of waves are light waves?

A

Transverse waves

34
Q

What phenomenon occurs when light reflects at a plane mirror?

A

Formation of an image

35
Q

What is represented by a ray diagram in reflection?

A

Light reflecting at a plane mirror

36
Q

What happens to light when it passes through a glass slab at an angle?

A

Refraction occurs

37
Q

When light enters a more optically dense medium, what is true about the angles?

A

Angle of incidence is greater than angle of refraction

38
Q

What is Snell’s law used for?

A

Relates angle of incidence and angle of refraction to refractive index

39
Q

Fill in the blank: Snell’s law is represented by _______.

A

nsini = n2sinr

40
Q

What is the critical angle in the context of total internal reflection?

A

Angle of incidence where light travels along the boundary

41
Q

What condition must be met for total internal reflection to occur?

A

Angle of incidence must be greater than the critical angle

42
Q

From which medium to which medium must light travel for total internal reflection?

A

From more optically dense to less optically dense

43
Q

How is the critical angle related to the refractive index?

A

n = sin(sin c)

44
Q

What is an optical fibre?

A

A long thin rod of glass surrounded by cladding

45
Q

What principle do optical fibres use to transfer information?

A

Total internal reflection

46
Q

In what fields are optical fibres extensively used?

A

Medicine and communications

47
Q

What are two applications of optical fibres in medicine?

A

Endoscopes, inside-body flexible cameras

48
Q

What is one application of optical fibres in communications?

A

High-speed data transfer

49
Q

What type of waves are sound waves?

A

Longitudinal waves

Longitudinal waves are waves in which the displacement of the medium is in the same direction as the wave propagation.

50
Q

What two phenomena can sound waves undergo?

A

Reflected and refracted

Reflection occurs when a wave bounces off a surface, while refraction is the bending of waves when they enter a medium at an angle.

IGCSE Edexcel Physics Combined (Paper 1) (8 decks)

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