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SA N5 Physics > Waves > Flashcards

Waves Flashcards

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1
Q

What is meant by the amplitude of a wave?

A

It is the distance from the centre of the wave to the crest or trough

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2
Q

What is meant by the frequency of a wave?

A

The number of waves generated or passing a point in 1 second

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3
Q

What is meant by the wavelength of a wave?

A

It is the distance from a point on one wave to the same point on the next

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4
Q

What is meant by the period of a wave?

A

The time it takes to generate one wave or for one wave to pass a point

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5
Q

Describe how to measure the speed of sound with two students using a set of cymbals, stop watch and trundle wheel

A
  • One student takes the cymbals and stands still
  • The other students take the stop watch and use the trundle wheel to measure a set distance away
  • The 1st student crashes the cymbals together once
  • The other students start the stop watch when they see the cymbals crash together and stop it when they hear the sound
  • Speed of sound is calculated by distance between the students divided by the time on the stop watch
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6
Q

Describe how to measure the speed of sound using the equipment below

A
  • Make a loud sound to the left of the 1st microphone
  • When the sound reaches the microphone one, it starts the electronic timer
  • When the sound reaches microphone two, the electronic timer stops
  • Measure the distance between the 2 microphones using a metre stick
  • The speed of sound is calculated by dividing the distance between the microphones by the time recorded buy the electronic timer
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7
Q

You are 5km away from a thunder storm. What reaches you first - the thunder or the lightning? Explain your answer.

A

The lightning. The speed of light is faster than the speed of sound.

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8
Q

You are 10km from a thunder storm. You count 15 seconds between seeing the lightning and hearing the thunder. How do you calculate how far away the storm is?

A
  • Use d = vt
  • where v is the speed of sound and t is 15 seconds
  • The distance must be converted into meters
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9
Q

You are 10km from a thunder storm. You count 15 seconds between seeing the lightning and hearing the thunder. You repeat this after the next lightning strike, the time between the lightning and thunder is now 10 seconds. What does this tell you?

A

The storm has moved closer to you.

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10
Q

What is meant by a longitudinal wave?

A

A wave that vibrates along the direction of travel. In a longitudinal wave, the motion of the medium is parallel to the direction of the wave

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11
Q

What is meant by a transverse wave?

A

A wave that vibrates at 90 degrees to the direction of travel. A transverse wave is a wave in which the motion of the medium is at right angles to the direction of the wave.

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12
Q

What type of wave is a sound wave?

A

Longitudinal

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13
Q

What type of wave is a water wave?

A

Transverse

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14
Q

What type of wave is a microwave?

A

Transverse

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15
Q

Name a longitudinal wave

A

Sound

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16
Q

Name 3 transverse waves

A
  • Radio
  • Microwave
  • Infrared
  • Visible light
  • Ultraviolet
  • X-rays
  • Gamma rays
  • Water waves
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17
Q

Name the members of the electromagnetic spectrum, from lowest to highest frequency

A

(Ronald Mcdonald Is Very Ugly eXclaimed George)

  • Radio
  • Microwave
  • Infrared
  • Visible light
  • Ultraviolet
  • X-rays
  • Gamma radiation
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18
Q

Which member of the electromagnetic spectrum has the most energy

A

Gamma radiation

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19
Q

State one detector of radio waves

A

Aerial

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20
Q

State one detector of microwaves

A

Aerial

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21
Q

State one detector of infrared

A
  • Photodiode
  • Phototransistor
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22
Q

State one detector of visible light

A
  • Retina in the eye
  • Photographic film
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23
Q

State one detector of ultraviolet light

A
  • Some chemicals glow or fluoresce under it
  • Photocells
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24
Q

State one detector of X-rays

A

Photographic film

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25
Q

State one detector of gamma radiation

A
  • Photographic film
  • GM tube
  • Bubble chamber
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26
Q

State one source of radio waves

A
  • Transmitter
  • Stars
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27
Q

State one source of microwaves

A
  • Transmitter
  • Magnetron
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28
Q

State one source of infrared

A
  • Stars
  • Lamps
  • Flames
29
Q

State one source of visible light

A
  • The sun
  • Light bulbs
  • Fire
30
Q

State one source of ultraviolet light

A
  • The sun
  • Special lamps
31
Q

State one source of X-rays

A

Stars

32
Q

State one source of gamma radiation

A
  • Stars
  • Some radioactive substances (e.g. Cobalt 60)
33
Q

State one use of radio waves

A
  • Radio/TV broadcasting
  • Aircraft and shipping bands
  • Radio waves detected from space are used by astronomers to find out what objects in space are made from
34
Q

State one use for microwave radiation

A
  • Mobile phone communications
  • Used to heat/cook food
  • Microwaves in space are used by astronomers to learn about the structure of nearby galaxies, and our own Milky Way
  • Radar
35
Q

State one use for infrared radiation

A
  • Skin emits infrared light so we can be seen in the dark by someone using night vision goggles
  • Astronomers use infrared to give information about space. Infrared light maps the dust between stars
  • Can be used to create thermograms which are used in medicine as a diagnostic tool for cancer, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), circulation problems
  • Remote controls for TVs, DVD, Bluray players, etc
  • Physiotherapists use heat lamps to help heal sports injuries
36
Q

State one use for visible light

A
  • We use light to see!
  • Lasers are visible light and are used in Xbox, PlayStation, Bluray players, DVD players
  • Lasers are also used in laser printers
  • Aircraft weapon aiming systems
37
Q

State one use for ultraviolet radiation

A
  • UV lamps in chip shops and butchers to attract insects
  • Detecting forged bank notes
  • Hardening some dental fillings
  • Night club lighting
  • UV security pens to mark property
  • Killing microbes - sterilising surgical equipment Food and drug companies use UV to sterilise products
  • Used by the body to produce vitamin D Used to treat skin disorders such as acne and psoriasis
38
Q

State one use for X-rays

A
  • Create images of bone to detect breaks
  • Security to scan luggage at airports
39
Q

State one use for gamma radiation

A
  • Used as a tracer in medicine
  • Used to treat cancer
  • Sterilisation of surgical instruments
  • Checking for cracks in metals e.g. aeroplane wings and joints
40
Q

How is the frequency of a wave related to its energy?

A

The higher the frequency, the more energy the wave has

41
Q

What is meant by the ‘normal’?

A

An imaginary line drawn at 90 degrees to the surface. All angles are measured from the normal.

42
Q

What is meant by refraction?

A

Refraction is the change of speed of a wave as it enters a different medium. Often is is observed as a change in direction of the wave.

43
Q

What happens to the speed of light as it travels from air into glass?

A

It slows down

44
Q

Does a light ray always change direction when it is refracted?

A

No - if the angle of incidence is 0 degrees

45
Q

What do waves transfer?

A

Energy

46
Q

What is meant by diffraction?

A

It is the bending of waves round an object

47
Q

Will long or short wavelengths diffract more?

A

Long wavelengths diffract more

48
Q

In the hills why can you pick up a radio signal but not a television signal?

A

Radio waves are longer wavelengths than television waves.

Radio waves diffract more and can reach the receiver.

49
Q

What is the difference in the diffraction pattern produced by waves passing through a wide and a narrow gap? (Wavelength is the same)

A

The narrower the gap, the more diffraction occurs.

50
Q

What is the difference in the diffraction pattern in a long wavelength and short wavelength passing an object?

A

The longer wavelength diffracts more

51
Q

What effect is shown here?

A

Diffraction

52
Q

Which wave priority is illustrated in the diagram below?

A

Amplitude

53
Q

Which wave property is illustrated below?

A

Wavelength

54
Q

In the diagram below, where is:

  • The normal?
  • The angle of incidence?
  • The angle of refraction?
A

See diagram

55
Q

What happens to a light ray as it travels from air into glass?

A

It will slow down and change direction towards the normal

56
Q

What happens to a light ray as it travels from water into air?

A

It speeds up and changes direction away from the normal

57
Q

What happens when white light is shone through a triangular prism as shown?

A

The light is refracted and produces a spectrum

58
Q

Which colour of light is refracted the most in a triangular prism when white light is shone through it?

A

Blue light

59
Q

Which colour of light is refracted the least in a triangular prism when white light is shone through it?

A

Red light

60
Q

Why does a triangular prism produce a spectrum from white light?

A

Different frequencies/colours of light are refracted by different amounts

61
Q

What is the difference between real and apparent depth? Explain how this happens.

A

We think that the water is shallower than it actually is (apparent depth)

This is because

  • The light is refracted at the water/air boundary and changes direction away from the normal
  • Our eyes/brain assume that light travels in straight lines
62
Q

What is the shape of a convex lens?

A

See image

63
Q

What is the shape of a concave lens?

A

See image

64
Q

What effect does a convex lens have on parallel light rays?

A

The light rays converge to a focal point by refraction of the light

65
Q

What effect does a concave lens have on parallel light rays?

A

It causes them to diverge due to refraction of the light

66
Q

What is the difference in the 2 waves shown below?

A

The bottom wave has a higher frequency / or the top wave has a lower frequency

67
Q

What is the difference in the 2 waves shown below?

A

The top wave has a larger amplitude and so has more energy. (Or the bottom wave has a smaller amplitude so has less energy)

68
Q

What path will the ray of light take as it passes through the glass block?

A

Light ray still experiences a change of speed - it is still refracted but there is no change in direction

69
Q

What path will the ray of light take as it passes through the glass block?

A

The light ray is refracted at the air/glass boundary and glass/air boundary. Both result in a change in direction.

As it enters the block, the speed of the light decreases and it changes direction towards the normal.

As it leaves the block, the speed of the light increases and it changes direction away from the normal.

SA N5 Physics (8 decks)

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