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Physics P1 > Waves > Flashcards

Waves Flashcards

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0
Q

Why does the direction the wave is travelling tell you about the direction the energy is going

A

The direction of travel of the wave is the direction at which the wave transfers energy

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1
Q

What are waves used to transfer

A

Energy and information

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2
Q

What are the two types of wave

A

Transverse and longitudinal

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3
Q

What is the direction of energy transfer for a transverse wave

A

Perpendicular to the direction at which the wave travels

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4
Q

What direction does a longitudinal wave travel

A

Parallel to the direction of energy transfer

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5
Q

What is a longitudinal wave made up off

A

Compression and rarefactions

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6
Q

Give an example of a mechanical wave

A

Waves on springs

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7
Q

How do mechanical waves travel

A

As transverse or longitudinal waves

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8
Q

Why are all electromagnetic waves transverse waves

A

Because there are no moving particles in a electromagnetic wave, so the oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of travel.

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9
Q

What kind of wave are sound waves

A

Longitudinal

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10
Q

What type of wave can be produced on a piece of stretched spring

A

Transverse, mechanical waves

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11
Q

What is the amplitude of a wave

A

The distance between the height of the wavelength (peak) and the position at rest

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12
Q

In terms of energy, what does increasing the amplitude mean

A

It increases the amount of energy a wave carries

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13
Q

What is the wavelength of a wave

A

The distance for one crest to the next crest, or from one trough to the next

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14
Q

What is the frequency of a wave

A

The number of wave crests passing a point in one second

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15
Q

What is the unit for frequency

A

Hertz, Hz

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16
Q

What is the wavelength for a longitudinal wave

A

The distance from the middle of one compression to the middle of the next compression

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17
Q

How do you tell the frequency of longitudinal waves

A

The number of compressions passing a certain point in one second

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18
Q

Why is an image seen in a mirror

A

Because of the reflection of light

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19
Q

What is the “normal”

A

Straight line through a surface or boundary perpendicular to the surface boundary

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20
Q

In reflection the angle of incidence should be equal to

A

The angle of reflection

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21
Q

Describe the image formed in a mirror

A
  • the same size as the object
  • upright
  • the same distance behind the mirror as the object is in front
  • virtual
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22
Q

What is a real image

A

An image that can be formed on a screen because rays of light that produce the image can actually pass through it

23
Q

What is a virtual image

A

It can be formed on a screen because the rays of light that produce the image only appear to pass through it

24
Q

What happens to light waves when they cross a boundary

A

They speed up, the wavelength changes but the frequency stays the same

25
Q

When does light refract

A

When it crosses a boundary such as air or water

26
Q

Can all waves diffract

A

Yes

27
Q

What causes waves to change direction during refraction

A

The change in speed

28
Q

What happens to the speed of the wave when it enters a more dense object

A

It slows down and the ray changes direction towards the normal

29
Q

What happen when light enters a less dense object

A

It speeds up and moves away from the normal

30
Q

When will a wave not change direction

A

If it is travelling along the normal

31
Q

Why does refraction take place

A

When light crosses a boundary

32
Q

Which light is refracted the most

A

Violet light

33
Q

Which light spectra is least refracted

A

Red light

34
Q

Why does light split up into different colours when it passes through a triangular prism

A

Because different wavelengths of light are refracted by different amounts

35
Q

What is diffraction

A

The spreading of waves when they pass through a gap or round an obstacle

36
Q

Why don’t we see the diffraction of light in everyday life

A

Because the wavelength of light is too small

37
Q

What kind of signals are carried by radio waves

A

TV signals

38
Q

Why may people in hilly areas not be able to receive TV signals

A

Because the signal gets blocked by a hill

39
Q

What sort of waves are diffracted

A

All types of waves are diffracted

40
Q

What is sound caused by

A

Mechanical vibrations in a substance

41
Q

In what state does sound travel through best

A

Solids

42
Q

In which state does sound travel slowest

A

Gases

43
Q

What is the range of human hearing

A

20Hz- 20,000Hz

44
Q

What is a reflected sound wave called

A

Echoes

45
Q

What sort of surfaces reflect sound

A

Hard, flat surfaces such as walls or floors

46
Q

What sort of surfaces absorb sound

A

Soft furniture: carpets, curtains and furniture

47
Q

Where does refraction take place

A

At the boundaries between layers of air at different temperatures

48
Q

What does the pitch of a note depend on

A

The frequency of the sound waves

49
Q

What effect does increasing the frequency have

A

The higher the pitch

50
Q

What does the loudness of an instrument depend on

A

The amplitude of the sound waves

51
Q

Why does increasing the amplitude have this effect on sound

A

Because the greater the amplitude, the more energy the wave carries and the louder the sound

52
Q

What piece of equipment shows waves

A

An oscilloscope

53
Q

Why do different instruments sound different when they play the same note

A

The waveforms are different

54
Q

What produces a pure sound

A

Tuning fork and signal generators

55
Q

What controls the quality of an instrument

A

The waveform

56
Q

How does a flute make sound

A

The air in the pipe vibrates as you blow onto the mouthpiece

Physics P1 (6 decks)

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