IB SL Physics Unit 4: Waves

waves

a propagation of energy from one position to another

mechanical

_________ waves: need a medium

electromagnetic

_________ waves: don’t need a medium

gamma xray ultraviolet visible infared micro radio

order the types of electromagnetic waves from high energy to low energy

gamma xray ultraviolet visible infared micro radio

order the types of electromagnetic waves from high frequency to low frequency

gamma xray ultraviolet visible infared micro radio

order the types of electromagnetic waves from low wavelength to high wavelength

high low high

gamma has [high/low] energy, [high/low] wavelength, and [high/low] frequency

low high low

radio has [high/low] energy, [high/low] wavelength, and [high/low] frequency

transverse compressional

the two types of mechanical waves are _________ and __________

period (T)

time it takes for the wave to repeat (seconds/wave)

seconds/wave

period (T) is measured in

Frequency (f)

waves per unit time (waves/second = Hertz (Hz))

waves/second = Hertz (Hz)

Frequency (f)is measured in

meters/second

Speed (v) is measured in

Speed (v)

wavelength x frequency = wavelength/period

c

speed of light in a vacuum (3.0×10^8 m/s)

refraction

when light (or any wave) bends due to a change in media

n

index of refraction

Snell’s law

sinθ₁/sinθ₂ = n₂/n₁ = v₁/v₂

critical angle

angle at which 0 refraction occurs

diffraction

waves spread as they pass through an aperture or around objects

s

in the s = wavelength x D/d equation, the fringe width

d

in the s = wavelength x D/d equation, the slit distance

D

in the s = wavelength x D/d equation, the distance from slit to screen

standing

a ___________ wave has nodes and antinodes; two waves that are exactly the same travel in opposite directions

travelling

a ___________ wave has a consistent amplitude and goes to infinity

antiphase

exact opposite wave = π

π

quantity of antiphase

2π

quantity of wave “in phase”

3π/2

quantity of the antiphase of a travelling wave

π/2

quantity of a travelling wave

π

quantity of the antiphase of a standing wave