Yr9 Wave Physics

Question 1

What are waves?

Answer 1

Waves are the propagation of a disturbance in a regular or organised way

Question 2

What are the two types of waves

Answer 2

Transverse and Longitudinal (Compression) Waves

Question 3

Characteristics and Examples of TRANSVERSE waves

Answer 3

Transverse waves are waves where the particle motion is perpendicular to the direction the wave is travelling. Examples include ripples on a body of water, seismic S waves or electromagnetic waves

Question 4

Characteristics and examples of LONGITUDINAL waves

Answer 4

Longitudinal waves are waves where the particle motion is on the same axis as the direction the wave is travelling. Examples include seismic P waves, sound waves and tsunami waves

Question 5

What is the difference between Travelling Waves and Standing Waves

Answer 5

Travelling waves are waves which are travelling or moving. A standing wave is a wave where there is little to no motion at fixed points called nodes while other points called antinodes vibrate with maximum amplitude

Question 6

Compressions and Rarefractions

Answer 6

Compressions are high pressure areas where particles are closer together while rarefractions are areas of low pressure where particles are farther apart.

Question 7

Mechanical Waves

Answer 7

Waves that require a medium to travel through.

Question 8

Velocity

Answer 8

The speed a wave is travelling, often measured in m/s

Question 9

Frequency

Answer 9

The amount of wave cycles passing by a given point per second, measured in hertz (hz)

Question 10

Wavelength

Answer 10

The distance between each identical point on a wave. Shown using the greek Lambda symbol

Question 11

Amplitude

Answer 11

The height of a wave

Question 12

Reflection

Answer 12

Light bouncing off an object

Question 13

Angle of Incidence = Angle of ????

Answer 13

Angle of Reflection

Question 14

Refraction

Answer 14

When a ray of light passes between different mediums it can change direction. This is due to the fact that light moves at different speeds in different materials.

Question 15

Resonance

Answer 15

Refers to a phenomenon that occurs when a wave hits an object with equal frequency to that object’s natural frequency (called the resonant frequencies) resulting in the object vibrating readily at increased amplitude because of standing waves

Question 16

What is a Concave Lens and Concave Mirror?

Answer 16

A Concave Lens is a Diverging Lens which splits light in many directions
A Concave Mirror on the other hand reflects light, converging it on to one focal point.

Question 17

What is a Convex Lens and a Convex Mirror?

Answer 17

A Convex Lens is a Converging Lens which converges light into one focal point.
A Convex Mirror on the other hand reflects light and scatters it in many directions

Question 18

What is the Focal Length

Answer 18

The distance between the centre of a lens and focal point

Question 19

Snell’s Law

Answer 19

A law that can calculate by how many degrees an angle refracts.
[refractive index of object 1] * sin([theta 1]) = [refractive index of object 2] * sin([theta 2])

Question 20

What is the equation that describes the relationship between Wavelength, Frequency and Velocity

Answer 20

Velocity = Wavelength * Frequency

Question 21

Wave Period

Answer 21

The time it takes for one wave cycle (or wavelength) to complete its course

Question 22

Types of waves on the electromagnetic spectrum from left to right

Answer 22

Radio Waves - Microwaves - Infrared waves - Visible Light - Ultraviolet Rays - X Rays - Gamma Rays