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Physics A-Level > Waves > Flashcards

Waves Flashcards

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1
Q

Displacement

A

Distance from the equilibrium position in a particular direction

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2
Q

Amplitude

A

Maximum displacement from the equilibrium position

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3
Q

Wavelength

A

Minimum distance between two points in a phase on adjacent waves

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4
Q

Period of oscillation

A

Time taken for one complete oscillation

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5
Q

Frequency

A

Number of complete oscillations per second

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6
Q

Wave speed

A

Distance travelled by a wave per unit time

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7
Q

Transverse wave

A

A wave where the direction of oscillation is perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer

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8
Q

Longitudinal wave

A

A wave where the direction of oscillation is parallel to the direction of energy transfer

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9
Q

Example of a transverse wave

A

Light

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10
Q

Example of a longitudinal wave

A

Sound

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11
Q

Phase difference

A

Relates to the oscillation of two points on the (same) wave. How far ‘out of step’ one oscillation is from the other

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12
Q

Reflection

A

A change of direction of a wave at a boundary between two media, remaining in the original medium

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13
Q

Refraction

A

A change of direction of a wave due to a change of speed as it passes from one medium to another

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14
Q

Diffraction

A

When a wave passes through a gap or travels around an obstacle, they spread out

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15
Q

Polarisation

A

Particles oscillate along one direction only

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16
Q

Which type of waves can be polarised?

A

Transverse

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17
Q

Partial polarisation

A

More waves are oscillating in one direction only, but not all of them

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18
Q

Intensity of a progressive wave

A

Radiant power passing through a surface per unit area

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19
Q

Equation for intensity

A

I = P/A , I- intensity, P-radiant power, A- Xarea

20
Q

Units of intensity

A

W/m^2

21
Q

Intensity equation for a sphere

A

I=P/4πr^2

22
Q

What is the relationship between intensity and amplitude?

A

intensity directly proportional to the square of the amplitude

23
Q

List EM spectrum in order of increasing frequency

A

Radio, Micro, IR, Visible, UV, X, Gamma

24
Q

Speed of light in vacuum

A

3x10^8 m/s

25
Q

Refractive index equation

A

n=c/v

26
Q

Snell’s law

A

n1sinθ1=n2sinθ2

27
Q

Total internal reflection

A

When the light strikes the boundary at a large angle to the normal (angle greater than the critical angle), so it is internally reflected

28
Q

Critical angle

A

Angle of incidence, which produced an angle of refraction =90

29
Q

What are the conditions for coherent waves (4)

A

Same freq
CONSTANT phase difference
Same wavelength
Same amplitude

30
Q

Interference

A

Combined effect of the disturbance cause by the each individual wave at the same place and time

31
Q

Superposition

A

When two(or more) waves meet,
the (resultant) displacement is the (vector) sum of the
(individual) displacements add up

32
Q

Progressive wave

A

A wave which transfers energy as a result of oscillations

33
Q

Stationary wave

A

A wave which stores energy, where the shape does not move along

34
Q

How does a stationary wave form on a string?

A

the wave reflected (at the fixed end of the wire) → interferes/superposes with the incident wave →
to produce a resultant wave with nodes and antinodes/no
energy transfer

35
Q

Path difference

A

Difference in the distances waves have travelled

36
Q

What is the need of a single slit in Young’s Double slit experiment?

A

To get the waves in phase, so the double slits act as 2 coherent sources

37
Q

What equation is derived from Young’s Double slit exp?

A

λ=(ax)/D D- distance from the screen to the double slit, a distance between the fringes

38
Q

Node

A

Node occurs where the amplitude/displacement is (always) zero

39
Q

Antinode

A

Antinode occurs where the amplitude (of the standing wave) takes the only
maximum (possible) value

40
Q

What is the distance between 2 adjacent (anti)nodes

A

half of a wavelength

41
Q

Which particles are in phase AND out of phase AND by how much on a stationary wave

A

In phase between 2 adjacent nodes

Out of phase outside 2 adjacent nodes by π radians

42
Q

What does fundamental frequency depend on?

A

String mass, tension, length

43
Q

Fundamental frequency - f0

A

minimum frequency of a stationary wave of a string

44
Q

What is always true for a standing wave in a closed pipe? (3)

A

Bottom is always a node
Top is always an antinode
F=(nv)/4L, L length of the pipe, v speed, n harmonic number

45
Q

What is always true for a standing wave in an open pipe? (2)

A
  1. Each opening is always an antinode

2. The pipe must be nλ/2

Physics A-Level (10 decks)

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