Waves definitions

Path Difference

________: A measure of how far ahead a wave is compared to another.

Diffraction

________: The spreading of waves as they pass through a gap of a similar magnitude to their wavelength.

Phase

________: A measure of how far through the wave's cycle a given point on the wave.

atomic spacing

They are used to calculate ________ and to analyse elements.

Amplitude

________: A wave's maximum displacement from its equilibrium position.

Modal Dispersion

________: Waves enter an optical fibre at slightly different angles, meaning the distance each beam has to travel is slightly different.

Laser

________: A light source that produces a collimated and coherent beam.

Frequency

________: The number of waves that pass a point in a unit time period.

Antinode

________: A position of maximum displacement in a stationary wave.

Node

________: A position of minimum displacement in a stationary wave.

Coherence

________: Waves are ________ if they have the same wavelength and frequency, as well as there being a fixed phase difference between them.

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.

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.

Wavelength

________: The distance between two identical positions on two adjacent waves.

Interference

________: The name given to the superposition of waves that occurs when two waves meet.

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.

Polarisation

________: The restriction of a wave so that it can only oscillate in a single plane.

Optical Fibre

________: A thin glass fibre through which signals are passed through.

Stationary Wave

________: A wave that stores, but does not transfer, energy.

Diffraction

________ Grating: A grating with hundreds of slits per millimetre, that results in sharper interference patterns.

Amplitude

A wave's maximum displacement from its equilibrium position

Antinode

A position of maximum displacement in a stationary wave

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

Coherence

Waves are coherent if they have the same wavelength and frequency, as well as there being a fixed phase difference between them

Diffraction Grating

A grating with hundreds of slits per millimetre, that results in sharper interference patterns

Diffraction

The spreading of waves as they pass through a gap of a similar magnitude to their wavelength

Electromagnetic Waves

Waves that consist of perpendicular electric and magnetic oscillations

Frequency

The number of waves that pass a point in a unit time period

Fringe Spacing

The distance between two adjacent bright fringes or two

Interference

The name given to the superposition of waves that occurs when two waves meet

Laser

A light source that produces a collimated and coherent beam

Longitudinal Wave

A wave with oscillations that are parallel to the direction of energy propagation

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

Modal Dispersion

Waves enter an optical fibre at slightly different angles, meaning the distance each beam has to travel is slightly different

Node

A position of minimum displacement in a stationary wave

Optical Fibre

A thin glass fibre through which signals are passed through

Path Difference

A measure of how far ahead a wave is compared to another

Phase Difference

The difference in phase between two points on a wave

Phase

A measure of how far through the wave's cycle a given point on the wave

Polarisation

The restriction of a wave so that it can only oscillate in a single plane

Pulse Broadening

The elongation of a signal passed down an optical fibre

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

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

Speed

The product of a wave's frequency and wavelength

Stationary Wave

A wave that stores, but does not transfer, energy

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

Transverse Wave

A wave with oscillations that are perpendicular to the direction of energy propagation

Wavelength

The distance between two identical positions on two adjacent waves

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