Waves

Describe Transverse Waves.

The oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer.

Waves have peaks and troughs.

Examples: light and other electromagnetic waves, ripple on water, strings on a musical instrument.

Describe Longitudinal Waves.

Oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy.

Waves have compressions and rarefactions (particles spread apart)

Examples: sound waves.

What is wavelength measured in?

Metres, m.

What is amplitude measured in?

Metres, m.

What is wavelength?

The distance from a point on one to the equivalent point on the adjacent wave.

What is amplitude?

The maximum displacement from its undisturbed position that a point on a wave moves.

What is frequency? (And what it’s measured in).

The number of waves passing a point each second.

Hertz, Hz

What is a Period? (And what it’s measured in).

The time for one complete wave to pass a point.

T in seconds, s.

What is wave speed? (And what it’s measured in).

The speed at which energy is transferred.

V, in m/s.

What equation links time and frequency?

T=1/f

Time period (seconds per wave)=1/frequency, Hz (waves p/s)

OR

f=1/T

What is the ‘wave’ equation?

Wave speed, m/s = Frequency, Hz x wavelength, m

v=fλ

Measuring waves in a solid: describe how to measure the frequency.

Use a signal generator to generate waves

Read frequency from signal generator

Measuring waves in a solid: describe how to measure the wave speed.

Calculate wave speed using v=fλ

Describe the relationship between wavelength, frequency and speed.

Example - the frequency and wavelength if eg the length of string remains constant.

If the frequency increases, the wavelength decreases.

It tension increases (more masses), the speed increases, so for the same frequency, wavelength decreases.

<> = ½ wavelength

<><> = 1 wavelength

<><><> = 1 ½ wavelengths

Describe how to measure the speed of sound in air.

Measuring waves speed:

-Sound wave is generated

-Timer starts when sound reaches first microphone

-Timer stops when sound reaches second microphone.

-Use metre ruler to measure distance between microphones.

Speed = distance travelled / time taken.

What is refraction?

Th change in direction of a wave when it passes from one medium to another.

What happens to a wave in more dense material?

It refracts towards the normal.

What is the normal?

An imaginary line at right angles to a surface.

Why is the angle of refraction smaller than the angle of incidence when a wave travels into a denser material?

Because the light bends towards the normal as it passes into eg glass (more dense) from air (less dense).

When light passes through a denser material, it interacts with more molecules, slowing down more than in a less dense material.

What is the angle of incidence?

The angle between light entering a new medium and the normal

What is the angle of refraction?

The angle between the light ray that has refracted and the normal.

Describe the visible spectrum of colours.

Red ← shows the least (least refraction)

Orange

Yellow

Green

Blue

Indigo

Violet ← shows the most (most refraction)

Describe the visible spectrum - wavelength sizes.

Radio waves Rich ← Longer wavelength

Microwaves Men

Infrared In

Visible light Vegas

Ultraviolet Use

X-Rays Expensive

Gamma Rays Gadgets ← Shorter Wavelength

Describe how frequency, wavelength and energy are lower/ higher or longest/shortest in the visile spectrum.

Radio Waves have: longest wavelength, lowest frequency, lowest energy.

This filters down the spectrum so that:

Gamma Rays have: shortest wavelength, highest frequency, highest energy,

Describe the speed at which electromagnetic waves travel.

They travel at the same speed through a vacuum and air.

Electromagnetic waves transfer energy and don't need a medium to travel so can travel through a vacuum.

Electromagnetic waves: describe radio waves.

Produced by oscillations in electrical circuits.

When absorbed, can induce alternating current in a circuit with the same frequency.

Uses: radio and television communications, Bluetooth, remote controls.

Electromagnetic waves: describe microwaves.

Produced by oscillations of electrons.

Uses: satellite television communications, WiFi, heating food in microwaves.

Electromagnetic waves: describe Infrared.

Result of the movement of atoms.

All objects continuously emit and absorb infrared radiation.

We detect this as heat, but infrared cameras can show more detail.

Hotter objects emit infrared radiation at a higher intensity.

Uses: infrared cameras, electrical heaters, cooking food.

Electromagnetic waves: describe visible light.

Results from changes in atoms.

Continuous spectrum.

Different wavelengths are detected as different colours.

Uses: seeing, fibre optic communications.

Electromagnetic waves: describe ultraviolet (UV).

Results from changes in atoms.

Can cause fluorescence (energy from UV absorbed by atom and re-emitted as visible light when electrons changed energy level).

Uses: energy efficient lamps, sun tanning, security.

Risk: ionising, can be harmful, premature skin aging, increased risk of cancer.

Electromagnetic waves: describe X-Rays.

Results from changes in atoms.

Passes through soft tissues in the body but can be absorbed by bone.

Causes damage to cells

Unit for radiation is sievert, Sv.

Uses: medical imaging, radiotherapy.

Risks: ionising, can be harmful, can cause mutation of genes, increased risk of cancer.

Electromagnetic waves: describe waves.

Results from changes in atomic nuclei.

Pass through tissues in the body.

Uses: mecdical imaging, radiotherapy, sterilisation.

Risk: ionising, can be harmful, cause muation of genes, increased risk of cancer.