AQA GCSE PHYSICS - WAVES

1. Draw an example of a transverse wave.

A wave with peaks and troughs moving at right angles to the direction of energy transfer.

2. Label the peak, trough, wavelength and amplitude.

Peak: Highest point

Trough: Lowest point

Wavelength: Distance between two peaks/troughs

Amplitude: Height from the middle to peak/trough

3. Give two examples of a transverse wave.

Light waves, water waves

4. Define the wavelength of a wave.

Distance between two corresponding points on a wave (e.g., peak to peak).

5. Define the amplitude.

The height of the wave from the middle to the peak or trough.

6. Define the frequency of a wave.

The number of waves passing a point per second.

7. Give the relationship between frequency and time.

Frequency = 1 / Time period

8. Give the units for frequency.

Hertz (Hz)

9. Give the units for time.

Seconds (s)

10. Describe what is mean by wave speed.

How fast a wave moves through a medium.

11. State the wave equation connecting wave speed, frequency and wavelength.

Wave speed = Frequency × Wavelength

12. Give the units for wave speed and for wavelength.

Wave speed: m/s, Wavelength: meters (m)

13. Describe how the wave speed of a sound wave could be measured.

Use a stopwatch to measure the time for sound to travel a known distance.

14. RP: Describe how the wave speed of ripples may be measured in a ripple tank.

Measure time taken for wave to reach its starting point after bouncing back from the other side of the tank

15. Draw an example of a longitudinal wave.

A wave with compressions and rarefactions moving parallel to the energy transfer.

16. Label the compression and rarefaction.

Compression: Close-together particles

Rarefaction: Spread-out particles

17. Give an example of a longitudinal wave.

Sound waves

18. Describe the impact of changing the frequency on a light wave.

it changes colour (e.g., blue light has a higher frequency than red light).

19. Describe the impact of changing the amplitude on a light wave.

It gets brighter.

20. Describe the impact of changing the frequency on a sound wave.

The pitch gets higher.

21. Describe the impact of changing the amplitude on a sound wave.

The sound gets louder

22. Describe what is meant by the 'electromagnetic spectrum'.

A range of waves that transfer energy without a medium.

23. Name the seven types of electromagnetic wave, beginning with radio waves.

Radio, Microwaves, Infrared, Visible light, Ultraviolet, X-rays, Gamma rays.

24. Which of these waves can humans perceive?

Visible light.

25. Describe how the wavelength of the waves changes throughout this series.

It decreases from radio waves to gamma rays.

26. Describe how the frequency of the waves changes throughout this series.

it increases from radio waves to gamma rays.

27. Give a use of radio waves.

Communication (e.g., TV and radio).

28. Give a use of microwaves.

Cooking and satellite communication.

29. Give a use of infrared radiation.

Thermal imaging and remote controls.

30. Give a use of visible light.

Photography and optic fibre cables

31. Give a use of ultraviolet.

Tanning and sterilization.

32. Give a use of X-rays and gamma rays.

X-rays for medical imaging, gamma rays for cancer treatment.

33. RP: Describe how you would measure the radiation of infrared radiation from different surfaces.

Use a thermometer or infrared sensor to detect heat radiation from a leslie cube.

34. Describe differences in absorption of electromagnetic wave between surfaces.

35. Draw a labelled ray diagram showing reflection of light from a plane mirror.

Dark and rough surfaces absorb more; shiny surfaces reflect more.

36. Draw a labelled ray diagram showing refraction of light through a rectangular prism.

Diagram of light bending as it enters and exits the prism.)

37. Describe why the direction of the wave changes during refraction.

Waves slow down or speed up in different materials.

38. Describe the observations when a beam of white light enters a triangular prism.

It splits into different colors (dispersion).

39. Explain why this happens.

Different colors of light refract by different amounts.

40. How are radio waves produced?

By oscillating electric currents.

41. What happens when radio waves are absorbed?

They create an alternating current in a receiver.

42. Where do gamma rays originate from?

Nuclear reactions and radioactive decay.

43. What hazards are caused by ultraviolet waves, X-rays and gamma rays?

They can damage DNA and cause cancer.

44. State the units for radiation dose.

Sieverts (Sv).

TRIPPLES TIME YAYAYAY

1. How do sound waves travel through solids?

As vibrations in particles.

2. Compare the movement of sound waves through solids compared to gases

Faster in solids (particles are closer together).

3. How do sound waves affect the ear?

Vibrate the eardrum, sending signals to the brain.

4. Why is the range of human hearing limited?

The ear can only detect certain frequencies.

5. What is the range of normal human hearing?

20 Hz - 20 kHz.

6. What is ultrasound?

Sound waves with a frequency above 20 kHz.

7. What happens to ultrasound when it meets a boundary between two different media?

It reflects partially.

8. How can this be used for imaging?

It reflects to create images inside the body.

9. Give three examples of situations where ultrasound is used for imaging.

Pregnancy scans, checking blood flow, detecting tumors.

10. What are seismic waves?

Waves from earthquakes.

11. Describe the difference between P-waves and S-waves.

P-waves are faster and travel through solids & liquids, S-waves only travel through solids.

12. How do lenses form images?

By bending (refracting) light.

13. Draw a convex and a concave lens.

(Convex bulges out, concave curves in.)

14. What is the principal focus?

The point where light rays meet after passing through a lens.

15. What is the focal length?

Distance from the lens to the principal focus.

16. Describe what is meant by real and virtual images.

Real: Can be projected onto a screen.

Virtual: Cannot be projected, appears inside the lens.

18. Draw a ray diagram to show how a convex lens can be used to make a virtual image.

Specular: Smooth surfaces reflect light in one direction.

Diffuse: Rough surfaces scatter light.

20. State the equation to calculate magnification.

Magnification = Image size / Object size

21. Explain the difference between specular and diffuse reflection.

Specular reflection: Light reflects in one direction from a smooth surface.

Diffuse reflection: Light scatters in different directions from a rough surface.

22. Explain what causes light to be different colours.

Different colors have different wavelengths.

23. Describe what you observe when you view an object through a red filter.

A red object looks red, but other colors appear black.

24. Explain what you see when you view an object through a red filter.

he filter only lets red light through and absorbs other colors.

25. What determines the colour of an opaque object?

The wavelengths of light it reflects.

26. What colour will the object appear if it reflects all wavelengths equally?

White.

27. What colour will the object appear if it absorbs all wavelengths?

Black.

28. Describe the difference between transparent and translucent.

Transparent: Lets most light through (e.g., glass).

Translucent: Lets some light through but scatters it (e.g., frosted glass).

29. How does the temperature of an object correspond to the infrared radiation radiated?

Hotter objects emit more infrared radiation.

30. What is a perfect black body?

An object that absorbs all radiation and emits the most radiation for its temperature.

31. What can be said about absorption and emission of infra red radiation if an object remains at a constant temperature?

It emits and absorbs infrared radiation at the same rate.