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Physics > Waves And The Electromagnetic Spectrum > Flashcards

Waves And The Electromagnetic Spectrum Flashcards

1
Q

What do waves do

A

Transfer energy and information in the direction they are travelling

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2
Q

What happens when waves travel through a medium

A

The particles of the medium vibrate and transfer energy and information between each other but the overall particles stay in the same place

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3
Q

What is the amplitude of a wave

A

The displacement from the rest position to a crest or trough

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4
Q

What is the wavelength

A

The length of a full circle of the wave (eg. crest to crest)

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5
Q

What is the frequency

A

The number of complete cycles of the wave passing a certain point per second

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6
Q

What is the period of a wave

A

The number of seconds it takes for one full cycle

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7
Q

What are transverse waves

A

Waves where the vibrations are perpendicular to the direction the wave travels

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8
Q

What waves are transverse

A

All electromagnetic waves
S-waves
Ripples and waves in water

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9
Q

What are longitudinal waves

A

Waves where the vibrations are parallel to the direction the wave travels

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10
Q

What are examples of longitudinal waves

A

Sound waves

P-waves

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11
Q

What do longitudinal waves do

A

Squash up and stretch out the arrangement of particles in the medium they pass through making compressions and rarefactions

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12
Q

What are compressions

A

High pressure, lots of particles

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13
Q

What are rarefactions

A

Low pressure, fewer particles

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14
Q

What does the wave-speed tell you

A

How quickly a wave moves through space

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15
Q

What are the two ways to calculate wave speed

A

v = x
—
t
v = fy

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16
Q

What can happen when a wave meets a boundary between two materials

A

The wave is absorbed by the second material

The wave is transmitted through the second material

The wave is reflected

17
Q

What happens when a wave is absorbed

A

The wave transfers energy to the materials energy stores

18
Q

What happens when a wave is transmitted

A

The wave carries on travelling through the new material

19
Q

What happens when a wave is reflected

A

The incoming ray is neither absorbed or transmitted but is instead ‘sent back’. This is how echoes are created

20
Q

What is an example of when a wave is absorbed

A

Microwaves when energy is transferred to a thermal energy store, which leads to heating

21
Q

What is an example of when a wave is transmitted

A

Lenses of glasses and cameras

22
Q

What is an example of reflection of a wave

A

Echoes

23
Q

What is refraction

A

When a wave hits a boundary at an angle, where this change of speed causes a change in direction

24
Q

What are the electromagnetic waves

A 
Radio waves
Micro waves
Infra red
Visible light
UV
X rays
Gamma rays

Physics (4 decks)

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