Waves And Radiation Flashcards
What’s the electromagnetic spectrum made up of?
Radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible , ultraviolet, x-rays, gamma rays
Give 3 examples of waves
Water waves
Sound waves
Electromagnetic waves
What do waves in the electromagnetic spectrum do?
Transport energy
Define a transverse wave
In a transverse wave particles vibrate at 90degrees to direction of travel
Name four examples of transverse waves
Water waves, light waves, gamma rays and all members of electromagnetic spectrum
Define longitudinal waves
Particles vibrate parallel to the direction the wave travels in
Example of a longitudinal wave
Sound
How to we work out the speed of a wave?
Dividing the distance it travels by the time it takes to travel that distance
Do waves travel at different speeds in different materials?
Yes
Define the wavelength of a wave
Horizontal distance between two adjacent crests or troughs
Define amplitude
Half the height from top of crest to bottom of a trough
Define period of a wave
Time taken for one wave to pass a point
What is frequency?
Number of waves per second
In reflection what is a normal?
Line drawn at 90degrees to mirror surface
Where would you use a curved reflector?
Transmitters , receivers of waves eg sound
What is diffraction?
When a wave passes an obstacle it bends around the obstacle
Which wavelengths diffract more?
Long
If you have a narrow gap does diffraction occur more or less?
More
Electromagnetic waves are a combination of what?
Oscillating electric and magnetic waves
What is the speed of light?therefore what is the speed of a wave on electromagnetic spectrum?
3x10’8ms-1
Which end of the electromagnetic spectrum has a low frequency?
The bottom eg radio waves
Which end of the electromagnetic spectrum has the shortest wavelengths?
The top eg gamma rays
If an electromagnetic spectrum wave has a higher frequency the greater the..
Amount of energy associated with it eg gamma rays have more energy than radio waves
Define refraction
When light changes from one transparent material to another it changes speed