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Physics > Waves > Flashcards

Waves Flashcards

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1
Q

When will a wave not be refracted

A

If the mediums have the same refractive index

Or if the wave is traveling along the normal line

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2
Q

Which seismic wave is transverse and which is longitudinal

A

P waves are longitudinal

S waves are transverse

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3
Q

What’s a transverse wave

A

A wave which oscillates perpendicular to the direction of its energy transfer

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4
Q

What’s a longitudinal wave

A

A wave which oscillates parallel to the direction of energy transfer

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5
Q

Which waves can be polarised

A

Transverse

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6
Q

What’s the law of reflection

A

The angle of incidence is always equal to the angle of reflection

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7
Q

What is refraction

A

When a wave hits a boundary of a different refractive index at an angle and it slows down but this causes it to change direction

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8
Q

What happens when a wave slows down

A

It’s wavelength decrease but the frequency stays the same

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9
Q

What is superposition

A

The combined effect of more than 1 wave interfering with each other

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10
Q

What’s the principle of superposition

A

When 2 waves meet the total displacement at a point is equal to the sum of the displacement of both waves

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11
Q

What is meant by coherent waves

A

When waves oscillate at the same frequency with a constant phase difference

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12
Q

What is the double slit experiment

A

A single slit causes diffraction of one wave to produce two coherent waves, they diffract through the double slit to create an interference pattern

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13
Q

What is the pattern of fringes due to the double slit experiment

A

All fringes equally spaces

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14
Q

What is the fringe pattern for a single slit experiment

A

The central fringe is double the width and all the other fringes are equal

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15
Q

What is polarised light

A

Light which only oscillates in one plane

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16
Q

What is the path difference for reinforcement

A

The path difference must be an integer multiple of the wavelength

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17
Q

What is the path difference for cancellation

A

It must be a whole number of wavelengths plus a half extra

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18
Q

What can happen to waves when they are reflected

A

They become partially polarised

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19
Q

What is an experiment to demonstrate the wave nature of sound

A

Diffraction of sound wave through an open door

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20
Q

How are stationary waves set up on a string

A

Two waves, one wave and its reflection, are travelling in opposite directions, they must have the same amplitude frequency and wavelength. They interfere to create a stationary wave

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21
Q

What is mew

A

The mass per unit length

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22
Q

What is the name given for an area of no displacement on a stationary wave

A

Node

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23
Q

What does a micrometer measure

A

The thickness or diameter of something

24
Q

What would you use to measure a gap

A

A vernier calliper

25
Q

Name safety precautions for a single/double slit experiment

A
  • make sure not to look directly at the lasers
  • make sure the reflections of the lasers is nowhere near the eyes
  • place a sign to warn people of use of lasers
26
Q

How does total internal reflection work in fibre optics

A

A wave is sent down a cable made up of a core and cladding which has a smaller refractive index than the core to allow TIR to occur. A wave is fired down the core at an incident angle greater than the critical angle therefore it is reflected inside the core.

27
Q

What phenomenon happens when white light is sent down a fibre optic

A

Multipath dispersion

28
Q

What actually happens when white light is passed through an optical fibre

A

Red light will be quicker due to its higher wavelengths and lower refractive index, therefore it will reach the end first. Due to this time difference it will cause pulse widening

29
Q

What can be done to stop pulse widening

A
  • use monochromatic light
  • use of shorter repeaters so that the pulse is reinforced
  • use of monomode fibre to reduce multipath dispersion
30
Q

When does total internal reflection occur

A

When the refractive index of the first medium is higher than the second and when the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle

31
Q

What is a wave

A

An oscillation of particles or fields

32
Q

What’s a progressive wave

A

A wave which carries energy from one place to another without transferring any material

33
Q

What happens to the source of a progressive wave

A

It loses energy

34
Q

What is proof that progressive waves transfer energy

A

EM waves cause things to heat up
X-rays and gamma rays can cause ionisation
Sound waves can make things vibrate
Wave power can be used to generate electricity

35
Q

What’s an example of transverse waves

A

Electromagnetic waves
Waves on a string
Water ripples
S waves

36
Q

What are examples of longitudinal waves

A

Sound
Waves on a spring
Water waves
P waves

37
Q

Which waves can be polarised

A

Transverse

38
Q

What is an example that EM waves are transverse

A

They can be polarised

39
Q

What came happen when light is reflected

A

It becomes partially polarised

40
Q

How do polarised sunglasses work

A

They have a Polaroid filter at a specific angle to block out unwanted glare from partially polarised light

41
Q

What useful waves are polarised

A

Tv and radio signals

42
Q

What is a stationary wave

A

The superposition of two progressive waves with the same frequency and wavelength b traveling in opposite directions

43
Q

Is energy transferred in stationary waves

A

No

44
Q

What are nodes and anti nodes

A

A node is where the amplitude is always 0

An anti nose is a point of maximum displacement

45
Q

When will microwaves cause stationary waves

A

If they are reflected by a metal plate or wall, they can be shown using a probe

46
Q

What are 3 examples that show stationary waves

A
  • reflected microwaves
  • lycopodium power in a glass tube
  • waves on a string
47
Q

What is diffraction

A

The spreading out of waves as they pass through a gap or around an obstacle

48
Q

Which is diffracted more blue or red

A

Red

49
Q

What is intensity

A

The number of photons per second/ power over area

50
Q

Where are most of the photons concentrate on a diffraction pattern

A

In the central fringe as this has the greatest intensity and therefore has the most photons per second

51
Q

When will a wave be diffracted most

A

When its wavelength is the same size as the gap

52
Q

What is a good example of diffraction

A

Sound passing through an open door

53
Q

What is path difference d

A

The difference in the distance the two waves have travelled

54
Q

When will constructive interference occur

A

When the path difference is an integer multiple of wavelengths

55
Q

When will destructive interference occur

A

When the path difference is an interfer and a half wavelengths

56
Q

At what frequency will you get the third harmonic

A

Three times the resonant frequency

Physics (14 decks)

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