________: A measure of how far ahead a wave is compared to another.
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Diffraction
________: The spreading of waves as they pass through a gap of a similar magnitude to their wavelength.
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Phase
________: A measure of how far through the wave's cycle a given point on the wave.
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atomic spacing
They are used to calculate ________ and to analyse elements.
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Amplitude
________: A wave's maximum displacement from its equilibrium position.
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Modal Dispersion
________: Waves enter an optical fibre at slightly different angles, meaning the distance each beam has to travel is slightly different.
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Laser
________: A light source that produces a collimated and coherent beam.
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Frequency
________: The number of waves that pass a point in a unit time period.
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Antinode
________: A position of maximum displacement in a stationary wave.
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Node
________: A position of minimum displacement in a stationary wave.
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Coherence
________: Waves are ________ if they have the same wavelength and frequency, as well as there being a fixed phase difference between them.
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Material Dispersion
________: Waves of different wavelengths travel at slightly different speeds through an optical fibre and so reach the end of the fibre at slightly different times, causing pulse broadening.
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Total Internal Reflection
________: An effect that occurs in optical fibres, where full reflection occurs at the inside boundary of the fibre, meaning no radiation passes out.
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Wavelength
________: The distance between two identical positions on two adjacent waves.
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Interference
________: The name given to the superposition of waves that occurs when two waves meet.
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Refractive Index
________: A material property that is equal to the ratio between the speed of light in a vacuum, and the speed of light in a given material.
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Polarisation
________: The restriction of a wave so that it can only oscillate in a single plane.
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Optical Fibre
________: A thin glass fibre through which signals are passed through.
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Stationary Wave
________: A wave that stores, but does not transfer, energy.
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Diffraction
________ Grating: A grating with hundreds of slits per millimetre, that results in sharper interference patterns.
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Amplitude
A wave's maximum displacement from its equilibrium position
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Antinode
A position of maximum displacement in a stationary wave
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Cladding
A protective layer on an optical fibre to improve the tensile strength of the fibre, prevent scratching and to prevent signal transfer between adjacent fibres
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Coherence
Waves are coherent if they have the same wavelength and frequency, as well as there being a fixed phase difference between them
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Diffraction Grating
A grating with hundreds of slits per millimetre, that results in sharper interference patterns
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Diffraction
The spreading of waves as they pass through a gap of a similar magnitude to their wavelength
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Electromagnetic Waves
Waves that consist of perpendicular electric and magnetic oscillations
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Frequency
The number of waves that pass a point in a unit time period
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Fringe Spacing
The distance between two adjacent bright fringes or two
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Interference
The name given to the superposition of waves that occurs when two waves meet
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Laser
A light source that produces a collimated and coherent beam
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Longitudinal Wave
A wave with oscillations that are parallel to the direction of energy propagation
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Material Dispersion
Waves of different wavelengths travel at slightly different speeds through an optical fibre and so reach the end of the fibre at slightly different times, causing pulse broadening
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Modal Dispersion
Waves enter an optical fibre at slightly different angles, meaning the distance each beam has to travel is slightly different
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Node
A position of minimum displacement in a stationary wave
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Optical Fibre
A thin glass fibre through which signals are passed through
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Path Difference
A measure of how far ahead a wave is compared to another
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Phase Difference
The difference in phase between two points on a wave
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Phase
A measure of how far through the wave's cycle a given point on the wave
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Polarisation
The restriction of a wave so that it can only oscillate in a single plane
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Pulse Broadening
The elongation of a signal passed down an optical fibre
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Refractive Index
A material property that is equal to the ratio between the speed of light in a vacuum, and the speed of light in a given material
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Snell's Law
A law linking a wave's angle of incidence to its angle of refraction, with the use of the refractive indexes of the mediums involved
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Speed
The product of a wave's frequency and wavelength
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Stationary Wave
A wave that stores, but does not transfer, energy
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Total Internal Reflection
An effect that occurs in optical fibres, where full reflection occurs at the inside boundary of the fibre, meaning no radiation passes out
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Transverse Wave
A wave with oscillations that are perpendicular to the direction of energy propagation
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Wavelength
The distance between two identical positions on two adjacent waves
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Young's Double-Slit Experiment
An experiment that demonstrates the diffraction of light by passing monochromatic light across two narrow slits and observing the resulting pattern of bright and dark fringes
Studied by 3 people
