Waves Flashcards
What is the amplitude of a wave?
The maximum displacement of a point on the wave from its undisturbed position.
What is the wavelength of a wave?
The distance between the same point on two different waves.
What is the frequency of a wave?
The number of complete waves passing through a point per second.
What is the period of a wave?
The amount of time it takes for a full cycle of the wave.
Describe the difference between transverse and longitudinal waves.
Transverse waves have sideways compressions (eg water waves)
Longitudinal waves have parallel compressions (eg sound waves)
What is the equation that links wave speed, frequency and wavelength?
wave speed = frequency x wavelength
Explain the term absorption (in terms of waves).
The wave transfers energy to the material’s energy stores.
Explain the term transmission (in terms of waves).
When a wave carries on through a new material.
Explain the term reflection (in terms of waves).
When the wave is ‘sent back’ in the direction it came from.
True or false? All electromagnetic waves are transverse.
True
What kind of current is used to generate radio waves in an antenna?
Alternating current
Explain why microwaves are used for satellite communication and mobile phone signals.
They can pass easily through Earth’s watery atmosphere.
Give an everyday use of infrared radiation.
Increase or monitor temperature
What type of radiation is used to transmit a signal in an optical fibre?
Visible light
What is a leslie cube?
A hollow, watertight, metal cube whose four vertical faces have different surfaces (matte black paint, shiny metal, matte white paint and dull metal)
