C3- Waves

Question 1

What are the two types of progressive waves? [2]

Answer 1

1. Transverse
2. Longitudinal

Question 2

Transverse waves [2]

Answer 2

1. Has peaks and troughs
2. vibrations are at right angles to the direction of travel

Question 3

What types of waves are transverse? [3]

Answer 3

1. electromagnetic radiation
2. water waves
3. seismic S-waves

Question 4

Longitudinal waves [2]

Answer 4

1. Consists of compressions and rarefactions
2. vibrations are in the same directional as the directions of travel

Question 5

Define wavelength

Answer 5

Distance between two successive crests/troughs

Question 6

Define Wave motion

Answer 6

transfer of energy from one point to another without the transfer of matter

Question 7

Define frequency

Answer 7

the number of peaks/troughs that passes through a point per second

Question 8

What is frequency measured in?

Answer 8

Hertz (Hz)

Question 9

Define Wave Speed

Answer 9

Distance moved by a point on the wave in 1 second

Question 10

Define Amplitude

Answer 10

Height of Crest or Depth of trough from the equilibrium

Question 11

Wave speed equation

Answer 11

Wave speed (v) = Frequency(f) x Wavelength (⁁)

Question 12

Define Wavefront

Answer 12

Where all the rays of the wave is in the same phase and a line is drawn through to show it.

Question 13

Define ray

Answer 13

Line draw at right angles to a wavefront showing the direction of travel.

Question 14

Define Incident ray + angle [2]

Answer 14

The ray coming in
the angle the ray comes in at

Question 15

Define Reflection ray (+angle) [2]

Answer 15

The ray going out of the mirror
the angle the ray goes out at

Question 16

What are the characteristics of an image that is seen through a plane mirror? [3]

Answer 16

1. same distance from mirror
2. same size
3. laterally inverted

Question 17

Equation of reflection

Answer 17

Angle of incident (i) = angle of reflection (r)
(Same speed too)

Question 18

What is the cause of refraction?

Answer 18

The change of speed in different mediums cause the light ray to change speed

Question 19

How does the ray act when it moves from a less dense to more dense medium?

Answer 19

They bend towards the normal
(light slows down due to smaller wavelengths)

Question 20

How does the ray act when it moves from a more dense to less dense medium?

Answer 20

they bend away from the normal
(light fastens due to bigger wavelengths)

Question 21

What is diffraction?

Answer 21

When straight waves meet at narrow gaps and create circular wavefronts
(can occur at the edge of an obstacle)

Question 22

What causes more diffraction? [2]

Answer 22

1. Narrower the gap
2. Greater wavelength

Question 23

What is a ripple tank?

Answer 23

shallow tank of water to study wave motion