Test > physics topic 6 - waves > Flashcards

physics topic 6 - waves Flashcards

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1
Q

Define wave.

A

A disturbance that transfers energy through matter or space.

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2
Q

What is the medium in wave propagation?

A

The substance through which a wave travels, such as air or water.

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3
Q

True or false: Waves can travel through a vacuum.

A

FALSE

Waves require a medium; light waves can travel through a vacuum.

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4
Q

Fill in the blank: Frequency is measured in _______.

A

Hertz (Hz)

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5
Q

What is the wavelength of a wave?

A

The distance between successive crests or troughs.

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6
Q

Define amplitude.

A

The maximum displacement of points on a wave from its rest position.

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7
Q

What is the speed of a wave?

A

The distance traveled by a wave in a given time.

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8
Q

True or false: Sound waves are longitudinal.

A

TRUE

Sound waves compress and expand the medium in the direction of travel.

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9
Q

Fill in the blank: Transverse waves have _______ motion.

A

Perpendicular

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10
Q

What is an example of a transverse wave?

A

Light waves are an example of transverse waves.

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11
Q

Define reflection in wave behavior.

A

The bouncing back of a wave when it hits a barrier.

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12
Q

What is refraction?

A

The bending of waves as they enter a different medium.

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13
Q

True or false: Waves can interfere with each other.

A

TRUE

Interference can be constructive or destructive.

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14
Q

Fill in the blank: Constructive interference occurs when waves _______.

A

Combine to increase amplitude.

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15
Q

What is destructive interference?

A

When two waves combine to decrease amplitude.

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16
Q

Define diffraction.

A

The spreading of waves when they pass through an opening or around obstacles.

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17
Q

What is a standing wave?

A

A wave that remains in a constant position, formed by interference.

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18
Q

True or false: The Doppler effect relates to changes in frequency.

A

TRUE

It occurs when the source of a wave moves relative to an observer.

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19
Q

Fill in the blank: Sound waves travel faster in _______.

A

Solids

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20
Q

What is ultrasound?

A

Sound waves with frequencies above the audible range for humans.

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21
Q

Define infrasound.

A

Sound waves with frequencies below the audible range for humans.

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22
Q

What is the electromagnetic spectrum?

A

The range of all types of electromagnetic radiation.

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23
Q

True or false: Visible light is part of the electromagnetic spectrum.

A

TRUE

It includes wavelengths from approximately 400 to 700 nanometers.

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24
Q

Fill in the blank: Radio waves have the _______ wavelengths.

A

Longest

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25
What are **microwaves** used for?
Cooking food and in communication technologies.
26
Define **infrared radiation**.
Electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths longer than visible light.
27
What is **visible light**?
The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that can be seen by the human eye.
28
True or false: Ultraviolet light can cause sunburn.
TRUE ## Footnote UV radiation can damage skin cells.
29
Fill in the blank: **X-rays** are used in _______.
Medical imaging
30
What are **gamma rays**?
High-energy electromagnetic waves emitted by radioactive materials.
31
Define **wave-particle duality**.
The concept that waves can exhibit properties of both waves and particles.
32
What is **polarization**?
The orientation of the oscillations in a transverse wave.
33
True or false: Polarized light has waves vibrating in multiple directions.
FALSE ## Footnote Polarized light waves vibrate in a single plane.
34
Fill in the blank: **Sound intensity** is related to the _______ of the wave.
Amplitude
35
What is the **threshold of hearing**?
The lowest sound intensity that can be heard by the average human.
36
Define **echo**.
The reflection of sound that arrives at the listener after a delay.
37
What is **sonar**?
A technique that uses sound propagation to navigate or detect objects underwater.
38
True or false: Waves can carry information.
TRUE ## Footnote Information can be encoded in wave properties like frequency and amplitude.
39
Fill in the blank: **Amplitude modulation** varies the _______ of a wave.
Amplitude
40
What is **frequency modulation**?
A technique that varies the frequency of a wave to encode information.
41
Define **wavefront**.
An imaginary line that connects points of a wave that are in phase.
42
What is the **law of reflection**?
The angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection.
43
True or false: The speed of light is constant in all media.
FALSE ## Footnote Light travels slower in denser media like glass.
44
Fill in the blank: **Snell's law** relates to the _______ of light.
Refraction
45
What is **total internal reflection**?
The complete reflection of light within a medium when it hits the boundary at a steep angle.
46
Define **wave energy**.
The energy carried by a wave as it propagates through a medium.
47
What is **sound pressure level**?
A measure of the pressure variation from a sound wave.
48
True or false: Sound travels faster in air than in water.
FALSE ## Footnote Sound travels faster in water due to its density.
49
Fill in the blank: **Harmonics** are whole number multiples of a _______.
Fundamental frequency
50
What is a **node** in a standing wave?
A point where the wave has minimum amplitude.
51
Define **antinode**.
A point where the wave has maximum amplitude.
52
What is **resonance**?
The phenomenon where a system vibrates at maximum amplitude at specific frequencies.
53
True or false: Waves can be absorbed by materials.
TRUE ## Footnote Absorption reduces wave energy and can convert it to heat.
54
Fill in the blank: **Sound waves** can be _______ by soft materials.
Dampened
55
What is **wave interference**?
The process where two or more waves overlap and combine.
56
Define **standing wave patterns**.
Patterns formed by the interference of two waves traveling in opposite directions.
57
What is the **principle of superposition**?
The total displacement of a wave is the sum of individual displacements.
58
True or false: Waves can only travel in one direction.
FALSE ## Footnote Waves can reflect, refract, and diffract, allowing multiple directions.
59
Fill in the blank: **Wave speed** is calculated by multiplying _______ and wavelength.
Frequency
60
What is **wave behavior**?
The way waves interact with their environment, including reflection, refraction, and diffraction.
61
Define **acoustic shadow**.
An area where sound waves cannot reach due to obstruction.
62
What is the **critical angle**?
The angle of incidence above which total internal reflection occurs.
63
True or false: All waves can be polarized.
FALSE ## Footnote Only transverse waves can be polarized.
64
Fill in the blank: **Sound waves** are _______ waves.
Longitudinal
65
What is a **wave equation**?
An equation that describes the relationship between wave speed, frequency, and wavelength.
66
Define **wavefront diagram**.
A visual representation showing the direction of wave propagation.
67
What is **wave scattering**?
The redirection of waves in different directions when they encounter obstacles.
68
True or false: All electromagnetic waves travel at the same speed in a vacuum.
TRUE ## Footnote They all travel at the speed of light, approximately 3 x 10^8 m/s.
69
Fill in the blank: **Sound travels** faster in _______ than in gases.
Liquids
70
What is **wave reflection**?
The bouncing back of a wave when it hits a barrier.
71
Define **wave transmission**.
The passing of waves through a medium without being absorbed.
72
What is **wave attenuation**?
The reduction in the strength of a wave as it travels through a medium.
73
True or false: Waves can carry energy without transferring matter.
TRUE ## Footnote This is a key characteristic of wave motion.
74
Fill in the blank: **Seismic waves** are produced by _______.
Earthquakes
75
What is **wave propagation**?
The movement of waves through a medium or space.
76
Define **wave characteristics**.
Properties such as amplitude, wavelength, frequency, and speed.
77
What is the **relationship between frequency and wavelength**?
They are inversely related; as frequency increases, wavelength decreases.
78
True or false: Higher frequency waves have shorter wavelengths.
TRUE ## Footnote This relationship is fundamental in wave physics.
79
Fill in the blank: **Longitudinal waves** consist of _______ and rarefactions.
Compressions
80
What is the **Doppler effect**?
The change in frequency of a wave in relation to an observer moving relative to the wave source.
81
Define **wave energy transfer**.
The process of energy moving from one point to another via waves.
82
What is **wave behavior in different media**?
Waves change speed, direction, and wavelength when entering a different medium.
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