Waves and Optics

Question 1

What is the speed of light in a vacuum?

Answer 1

3 x 10^8 m/s

Question 2

What is the formula for the speed of a wave?

Answer 2

Speed = Frequency x Wavelength

Question 3

True or False: Light waves are transverse waves.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

What is the formula for the frequency of a wave?

Answer 4

Frequency = Speed / Wavelength

Question 5

What is the formula for the period of a wave?

Answer 5

Period = 1 / Frequency

Question 6

What is the formula for the amplitude of a wave?

Answer 6

Amplitude = Maximum displacement from equilibrium

Question 7

Convex mirrors will always create ____ images

Answer 7

Virtual, smaller, erect

Question 8

A wave parallel to the principle axis hits a convex mirror. Tracing back the reflected wave, it passed through the…

Answer 8

Focal point (Virtual)

Question 9

A ray parallel to the principle axis hits a convex mirror. Tracing back the reflected ray passes through the…

Answer 9

Focal point (virtual)

Question 10

Waves are…

Answer 10

Disturbances that propagate from its source; a transfer of energy.

Question 11

What is the formula for the Doppler effect in sound waves? When do you add/subtract the sound and source velocity?

Answer 11

f observed = f source * (v sound / (v sound –+ v source)

Add when distance increases (source away from observer). Subtract when distance decreases.

Question 12

the Doppler Effect

Answer 12

The apparent change in frequency or wavelength of a wave in relation to an observer
nyermmmmm

Question 13

The critical angle is…

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Total Internal Reflection

Answer 14

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.

Question 15

What is Snell’s Law?

Answer 15

nr/ni = sin0i/sin0r = vi/vr = wavelengthi/wavelengthr

Question 16

Refraction

Answer 16

Light bending as it travels from one medium to another. Different points on the same wavefront strike the interface at different times.

Question 17

Index of Refraction (n)

Answer 17

Dimensionless number
Result of composition and density

Question 18

What are the two types of waves

Answer 18

Mechanical and Electromagnetic

Question 19

Mechanical Waves are…

Answer 19

A transfer of kinetic energy through a medium. Can be either transverse (ripples in a pond) or longitudinal (sound waves)

Question 20

Electromagnetic waves are…

Answer 20

waves of electromagnetic fields that can propagate through vacuums. transverse, extremely rarely longitudinal (plasma/)

Question 21

Transverse waves

Answer 21

Where the direction of wave propagation is perpendicular to the direction of energy propagation (EX: Ripples in a pond from a horizontal view)

Question 22

Longitudinal Waves

Answer 22

Direction of wave propagation and direction of energy propagation are the same (EX: Sound waves)

Question 23

Wavelength is

Answer 23

the distance between consecutive crests or troughs in a wave (m)

Question 24

Period is

Answer 24

the time required for a wave to complete one full cycle/wavelength

Question 25

Amplitude is

Answer 25

the distance from the equilibrium line to a crest or trough

Question 26

Frequency is

Answer 26

the number of wavelengths per unit of time, or # of wavelengths/# of seconds.
EX: A heart beats 80.0 times per minute, it’s frequency is 80.0/60.0s or 1.33Hz

Question 27

Crest/Trough

Answer 27

Highest/lowest point on a wave relative to the line of equilibrium

Question 28

Principle of Superposition

Answer 28

Waves can interact

Waves that are totally in phase have constructive interference (A + A) = amplitude = amplitude + amplitude

Waves that are totally out of phase have destructive interference (A - A) = amplitude = amplitude - amplitude

Question 29

Node

Answer 29

A dark band in diffraction. Waves are totally out of phase and deconstructively interfere.

Question 30

Anti-node

Answer 30

Brightest lines in diffraction. Waves are totally in-phase and constructively interfere.

Question 31

Diffraction

Answer 31

When a wave bends around numerous obstacles. EX: Double-slit experiment

Question 32

The Photoelectric Effect

Answer 32

Electrons are emitted when electromagnetic radiation hits a material. EX: Solar panels

Question 33

Polarization

Answer 33

Transverse waves that have oscillations with a specified geometrical orientation.

Question 34

Resonance

Answer 34

Maximum increase in amplitude of oscillations due to a periodic interaction.
EX: Two tuning forks that are forced to vibrate at the same frequency causing an increase in amplitude (sound louder)

Question 35

Critical Angle can only occur if…

Answer 35

ni > nr

Question 36

What is the Normal line?

Answer 36

The line at the vertex of the angle at which a ray reflects, perpendicular to the surface it reflects off of

Question 37

Concave lenses act like…

Answer 37

Convex mirrors

Question 38

A Concave lens’ focal length is…

Answer 38

Always negative, f is always virtual

Question 39

A Convex lens’ focal point is…

Answer 39

Always positive, always real

Question 40

What is spherical aberration?

Answer 40

Light rays striking a spherical surface off-centre are refracted and reflected differently than those closer to the centre. This results in lower quality images that might be produced.