Waves and Optics Flashcards
What is the speed of light in a vacuum?
3 x 10^8 m/s
What is the formula for the speed of a wave?
Speed = Frequency x Wavelength
True or False: Light waves are transverse waves.
True
What is the formula for the frequency of a wave?
Frequency = Speed / Wavelength
What is the formula for the period of a wave?
Period = 1 / Frequency
What is the formula for the amplitude of a wave?
Amplitude = Maximum displacement from equilibrium
Convex mirrors will always create ____ images
Virtual, smaller, erect
A wave parallel to the principle axis hits a convex mirror. Tracing back the reflected wave, it passed through the…
Focal point (Virtual)
A ray parallel to the principle axis hits a convex mirror. Tracing back the reflected ray passes through the…
Focal point (virtual)
Waves are…
Disturbances that propagate from its source; a transfer of energy.
What is the formula for the Doppler effect in sound waves? When do you add/subtract the sound and source velocity?
f observed = f source * (v sound / (v sound –+ v source)
Add when distance increases (source away from observer). Subtract when distance decreases.
the Doppler Effect
The apparent change in frequency or wavelength of a wave in relation to an observer
nyermmmmm
The critical angle is…
when the angle of reflection is 90° to the normal: the ray is refracted. If the incident ray°>the refracted ray, total internal reflection occurs
Total Internal Reflection
Light does not pass through a seemingly clear object because it is past the critical angle. Instead, it is totally reflected and does not refract.
What is Snell’s Law?
nr/ni = sin0i/sin0r = vi/vr = wavelengthi/wavelengthr
Refraction
Light bending as it travels from one medium to another. Different points on the same wavefront strike the interface at different times.
Index of Refraction (n)
Dimensionless number
Result of composition and density
What are the two types of waves
Mechanical and Electromagnetic
Mechanical Waves are…
A transfer of kinetic energy through a medium. Can be either transverse (ripples in a pond) or longitudinal (sound waves)
Electromagnetic waves are…
waves of electromagnetic fields that can propagate through vacuums. transverse, extremely rarely longitudinal (plasma/)
Transverse waves
Where the direction of wave propagation is perpendicular to the direction of energy propagation (EX: Ripples in a pond from a horizontal view)
Longitudinal Waves
Direction of wave propagation and direction of energy propagation are the same (EX: Sound waves)
Wavelength is
the distance between consecutive crests or troughs in a wave (m)
Period is
the time required for a wave to complete one full cycle/wavelength