the highest point on a wave above the equilibrium
crest
the lowest point on a wave below the equilibrium
trough
the distance between successive crests of a wave
wavelength
the max or min displacement from the equilibrium
amplitude
transfer energy without the transfer of matter
waves
waves travel in a direction perpendicular to the direction of vibration
transverse
waves travel in a direction parallel to the direction of vibration
longitudinal
v = f x λ
wave speed
time taken to complete one oscillation of a wave
time period
each wavefront represents a single wave
wave front
short wavelength
wavefront (closer)
longer wavelength
wavefront (far apart)
when a wave hits a boundary between two different media and doesn't pass through
reflection
angle of incidence = angle of reflection
law of reflection
when a waves passes a boundary (between two different media) and undergoes a change in direction
refraction
when the wave slows down and wavelength decreases wave bends towards the normal
refraction towards the normal
when the wave speeds up and the wave length increases
refraction away from the normal
when a wave passes through a narrow gap and spreads out
diffraction
the line at the right angle to the boundary is called normal
normal
the angle between the incident ray and the normal
angle of incidence
angle between reflected ray and the normal
angle of reflection
the same size as the object
the distance behind the mirror as the object infront of it
directly in line with the object
characteristics of reflection in plane mirror
an image that is formed when the light rays from an object do not meet but appear to meet behind the screen eg: mirror (virtual images are upright)
virtual image
an image that is formed when the light rays from an object converge (meet eachother) and can be projected on a screen
real image
frequency
during refraction what does not change
the ratio of speeds in two different regions
refractive index (n)
if light travels from less dense to more dense r < i and vice versa
snells law
n = sin i divided by sin r
snells law formula
angle of incidence when angle of refraction is 90
critical angle
occurs when i > c and the incident material is denser (eg: glass to air)
total internal reflection
telescope, periscope, binoculars
examples of things that use total internal reflection
sinc c = 1/n
sin c formula
the line that passes through the center of a lens
principal axis
the point at which the rays of lights travelling converge
principal focus/focal length
the distance between the center of the lens and the principal focus
focal length
has a single frequency
monochromatic