Studied by 38 people
Definition of a wave
Waves carry energy or information from one place to another
Transverse waves
e.g. light waves
Travel perpendicular to the direction of energy travel
Up and down movements
Longitudinal waves
e.g sound waves
Travel parallel to the direction of energy travel
Across movements
What is the term for short and long wavelengths in a Longitudinal Wave
Short: compression
Long: Rarefaction
What frequency can humans hear?
20 - 20,000 Hz
Definition of Frequency
The number of waves passing a point in a second
Definition of ‘period’
P - time period
Time taken to pass a point (seconds)
Time taken for one complete oscillation
Variables for the speed of ripples on water practical
Control - Travel length, height dropped from
Dependant - Time to travel 2m
Independent- Water Depth
Equation for speed
S=D/T
Speed = Distance / Time
What is the ‘normal’?
A line drawn perpendicular to the mirror/surface to help measure the angle
When light reflects off a flat surface in a straight line, what is this called?
specular
When light reflects off a rough surface in different directions, what is this called?
Diffused
Info about sound waves
Longitudinal (across)
Vibrations travel through air
Vibrations move to our ear drums which vibrate and cause the sensation of sound
Ultrasound
Above 20,000Hz (above human hearing)
Wave is partially reflected at the boundary between materials
What is ultrasound used for and how does it work?
Medical (foetus scan) - Sound waves bounce off skin, organs etc at different speeds. These echos are converted into images with a transducer.
Industrial (under oceans) - Time taken for reflections to reach a detector can be used to determine how far away a boundary is
Dog training (whistles)
S - waves
Secondary Waves
Transverse
Can’t travel through liquid
P - waves
Primary Waves
What is the Electromagnetic spectrum?
Moves energy from a source to an absorber
Lowest Freq:
Radio waves
Microwaves
Inferred Radiation
Visible light
Ultraviolet
X-ray
Gamma waves
Highest Freq
Wavelength
The distance from a point on a wave to the equivalent point on the next wave
(metres)
What Is the highest and lowest point on a wave called?
Peaks
Troughs
What can happen when a wave meets a boundary
Reflection
Transmission
Absorption
Refraction
What happens when waves are reflected off a surface
The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection
What does Refracted mean?
Wave is reflected off a surface and changes direction
What happens when light travels from a material with a low to one with higher refractive index?
The light bends towards the normal
What happens when light travels from a material with a high to one with lower refractive index?
The light bends away from the normal
Why does Refraction happen?
When a light wave enters a medium in which it travels slower at an angle,
The first part of the wave to enter slows down
The rest continues at a higher speed
the waves changes direction towards the normal
Label this ripple tank
Wave speed equation
v=f x λ
wave speed = freq x wavelength
Label this diagram
How to determine wavelength with this practical
Total Length / number of half wavelengths x 2
How to draw the reflected ray?
What is a convex lens?
How do you show this?
Method for angle of refraction with ray box
• place a glass block on a piece of paper
• draw around the glass block
• use the ray box to shine a ray of light through the glass block
• mark the ray of light entering the glass block
• mark the ray of light emerging from the glass block
• join the points to show the path of the complete ray through the block
• and draw a normal line at 90 degrees to the surface
• use a protractor to measure the angle of incidence
• use a protractor to measure the angle of refraction
• use a ray box to shine a ray of light at a range of different angles (of incidence) • increase the angle of incidence in 10 degree intervals
• from an angle of incidence of 10 degrees to an angle of incidence of 70
degrees.
Note
Flashcard