Physics Skills and Wave Properties Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering basic physics prefixes, scientific notation, light properties (reflection, refraction, and colour), and wave characteristics including sound.

Giga- ($G$)

A prefix representing a billion, or a factor of $\times 10^9$.

Mega- ($M$)

A prefix representing a million, or a factor of $\times 10^6$.

Kilo- ($k$)

A prefix representing a thousand, or a factor of $\times 10^3$.

Milli- ($m$)

A prefix representing a thousandth, or a factor of $\times 10^{-3}$.

Micro- ($\mu$)

A prefix representing a millionth, or a factor of $\times 10^{-6}$.

Nano- ($n$)

A prefix representing a billionth, or a factor of $\times 10^{-9}$.

Normal

A dashed line drawn at $90^{\circ}$ to the surface at the point of incidence.

Law of Reflection

States that the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection.

Primary colours of light

Red, Green, and Blue.

Secondary colours of light

Magenta (Red + Blue), yellow (Red + Green), and Cyan (Green + Blue).

White light

The result of mixing all three primary colours of light (Red, Green, and Blue) together.

Refraction

The change in speed and wavelength (and usually direction) when light moves from one medium to another.

Angle of incidence

The angle measured between the incident ray and the normal.

Angle of refraction

The angle measured between the refracted ray and the normal.

Critical angle

The angle of incidence that results in an angle of refraction of exactly $90^{\circ}$.

Total Internal Reflection

An effect occurring when the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle, causing all light to reflect back into the material.

Convex lens

A converging lens used in glasses to correct long sight.

Concave lens

A diverging lens used in glasses to correct short sight.

Visible spectrum

The range of seven colours produced by the dispersion of white light: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet.

Transverse wave

A wave where vibrations occur at $90^{\circ}$ (perpendicular) to the direction of the wave, such as light or water waves.

Longitudinal wave

A wave where vibrations occur in the same direction (parallel) as the wave travels, such as sound waves.

Wavelength ($\lambda$)

The length of one complete wave, measured in metres ($\text{m}$).

Frequency ($f$)

The number of waves per second, measured in Hertz ($\text{Hz}$).

Period ($T$)

The time taken for one wave to pass a single point, calculated as $T = \frac{1}{f}$.

Wave Equation

The relationship between speed ($v$), frequency ($f$), and wavelength ($\lambda$), expressed as $v = f\lambda$.

Diffraction

The bending or spreading of a wave as it passes through a gap or around an object.

Pitch

The property of a sound wave that depends on its frequency; high frequency results in a high pitch.

Amplitude

The property of a wave that determines the volume or loudness of a sound; a louder sound has a higher amplitude.

Speed of sound in air

The constant value of approximately $340\,\text{m/s}$.

When light moves from glass to air

It's speed increases, its wavelength increases, it moves away from the normal

When light moves from air to glass

It's speed decreases, it's wavelength decreases, it moves towards the normal

Mediums that sound can travel

Solids, liquids, gases but not vacuums because it needs particles to vibrate

Human hearing range

20-20,000. Range gets more narrow as you age.

Ultrasound

Sounds above 20,000 Hz

Uses of ultrasound

Medical scans that are safer than X-rays, sonar to navigate underwater

Sound level

The loudness of a sound

How is sound level measured

Decibels (dB)

Sound level to damage hearing

85 dB

How to protect your hearing

Ear defenders, noise cancelling headphones

Intervals of decibels

An increase of 10dB is equivalent to doubling the volume

Quietest sound humans can hear

10dB

Whisper

20 dB

Normal conversation 1m away

60 dB

Jet engine, 35m away

130 dB

Noise pollution

Unwanted noise such as traffic, construction, airports, classrooms

Noise cancelling phones use

Used to reduce background noise. It records the noise and plays it back through the headphones with the wave turned upside down to cancel the noise

EM spectrum speed

3×10⁸

EM spectrum transverse or longitudinal

Transverse

Gamma rays wavelength

10^-12m

X-rays wavelength

10^-10

Ultraviolet wavelength

10^-8

Visible light wavelength

10^-7m

Infra red radiation wavelength

10^-5

Microwaves wavelength

10^-2

Radio waves wavelength

10³m

Gamma rays frequency

10²⁰Hz

X-rays frequency

10¹⁸Hz

Ultraviolet frequency

10¹⁶Hz

Visible light frequency

10¹⁵Hz

Infrared radiation frequency

10¹²Hz

Microwaves frequency

10⁸Hz

Radio waves frequency

10⁴Hz

Gamma rays sources

Plutonium

Uranium

X-rays sources

Electrons hitting a metal target

Black holes

Ultraviolet sources

Sun tan lamps

Stars

Visible light sources

Light bulbs

LEDs

Infrared radiation sources

Hot objects

Bunsen flame

Microwaves sources

Antenna

Mobile phones

Radio waves sources

Antenna

Transmitters

Gamma rays detectors

Geiger Muller tube

Scintillation counter

X-rays detectors

Photographic film

Geiger Muller tube

Ultraviolet detectors

Fluorescent materials

Visible light detectors

Photodiode

LDR

Eye retinas

Infrared radiation detectors

Thermistor

Photodiode

Microwaves detectors

Aerial & tuner

Radio waves detectors

Aerial & tuner

Gamma rays uses

Treat cancer by destroying cells

Optical fibre communications

X-rays uses

Luggage scans at airport

Detecting broken bones

Ultraviolet uses

Treatment for acne or vitamin D deficiency

Laser eye surgery

Visible light uses

Lamps to check security markings

Checking for leaks in pipes

Infrared radiation uses

Healing damaged muscles

Night vision cameras for police and army

Microwaves uses

Heating food quickly

Mobile phone and satellite communications

Radio waves uses

Emergency services communications

Music and TV broadcasts

Gamma rays dangers

Can cause mutations leading to cancer

X-rays dangers

Can cause mutations leading to cancer

Ultraviolet dangers

Can cause sunburn or skin cancer

Visible light dangers

Can damage the eyes

Infrared radiation dangers

Blisters or burns

Microwaves dangers

Mild heating effect

Radio waves dangers

No serious risks