Waves And Light

Question 1

What is the unit for frequency

Answer 1

Hertz

Question 2

Describe a longitudinal wave

Answer 2

Longitudinal vibrations and transfer of energy

Question 3

How do you find the amplitude

Answer 3

Measure from the centre of the wave to the top

Question 4

Time period and frequency

Answer 4

Frequency =1/ time period

Question 5

Define amplitude

Answer 5

The distance between the central line and the tip of a wave

Question 6

Define frequency

Answer 6

The rate at which the waves pass - how many pass in 1 second

Question 7

Define wave length

Answer 7

The distance between two neighbouring points on two waves

Question 8

Define time period

Answer 8

The amount of time it takes for a wave to complete 1 cycle

Question 9

Wave length speed (of wave) frequency

Answer 9

Speed = frequency * wave length (written with Greek symbol)

Question 10

Recall the order of the electromagnetic spectrum

Answer 10

Radio waves 
Micro waves 
Infrared 
Visible light 
Ultraviolet 
X ray 
Gamma rays

Question 11

Pro and con of radio waves

Answer 11

Pro - communication

Con - none

Question 12

Pro and con of micro waves

Answer 12

Pro - heated ovens

Con - can cause cancer

Question 13

Infrared pro and con

Answer 13

Pro - thermal imaging

Con - can cause burns

Question 14

Visible light pro and con

Answer 14

Pro - fibre optics

Con - none

Question 15

UV pro and con

Answer 15

Pro - security tagging

Con - skin cancer

Question 16

X ray pro and con

Answer 16

Pro - medical scans

Con - chance of cancer if exposed for a long time

Question 17

Gamma ray pro and con

Answer 17

Pro - sterilising

Con - cancer

Question 18

Refraction

Answer 18

When light hits a more dense area such as glass it slows down and bends towards the normal but turns back when it reaches a less dense area again

Question 19

Diffraction

Answer 19

It occurs when a wave passes through a gap that is the same size of smaller than the wave and so when it goes through the gap it becomes curved

Question 20

Reflection

Answer 20

The rebounding of waves off a surface at exactly the same angle they it came in

Question 21

What frequency can humans hear

Answer 21

20 - 20,000 hertz

Question 22

Refractive index

Answer 22

Sin i / sin r

Question 23

How do you split white light

Answer 23

Using a prism

Question 24

Colours of the rainbow

Answer 24

Red 
Orange 
Yellow 
Green 
Blue 
Indigo 
Violet