Waves Flashcards
What is a wave?
A disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another without transferring matter.
What is the difference between longitudinal and transverse waves?
•Longitudinal waves: The oscillations are parallel to the direction of wave travel (e.g., sound waves).
• Transverse waves: The oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of wave travel (e.g., light, water waves).
What is the wavelength of a wave?
The distance between two consecutive crests or troughs in a wave.
What is the amplitude of a wave?
The maximum displacement of the wave from its rest position.
What is the frequency of a wave?
The number of complete oscillations or cycles of a wave that occur per second. (Unit: Hz)
What is the unit of wave speed?
Metres per second (m/s).
Name the 7 electromagnetic waves in order of increasing frequency.
- Radio waves
- Microwaves
- Infrared
- Visible light
- Ultraviolet
- X-rays
- Gamma rays
What are the properties of electromagnetic waves?
•All travel at the speed of light in a vacuum (300,000 km/s).
• Transverse waves.
• Can travel through a vacuum.
What is visible light?
The part of the electromagnetic spectrum that can be detected by the human eye.
What is the law of reflection?
The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.
What is a plane mirror?
A flat mirror that produces a virtual image that is the same size as the object and is laterally inverted.
What happens when light passes from air to glass?
Light slows down and bends towards the normal (refraction).
What type of wave is sound?
Longitudinal wave – the particles of the medium vibrate parallel to the direction of wave travel.
Can sound travel through a vacuum?
No, sound needs a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) to travel through.
Can sound travel through a vacuum?
No, sound needs a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) to travel through.
What happens to the speed of sound as the medium changes?
The speed of sound is faster in solids than in liquids, and fastest in gases.
What is refraction?
The bending of light when it enters a different medium (e.g., air to water) due to a change in speed.
What is diffraction?
The spreading of a wave as it passes through an opening or around an obstacle.
What is interference?
The interaction of two or more waves, which can result in constructive or destructive interference.
Constructive
When waves add up to make a larger amplitude
Destructive
When waves cancel each other out, resulting in zero displacement.
