AQA AS-Level Physics: Waves

?
What is a cycle of a wave?
One complete vibration
1 of 28
What is displacement?
How far a point on the wave has moved from its undisturbed position.
2 of 28
What is amplitude?
The maximum magnitude of displacement.
3 of 28
What is wavelength?
The length of one whole wave cycle.
4 of 28
What is the period?
The time taken for a whole cycle to complete or pass a given point.
5 of 28
What is frequency?
The number of cycles per second passing a given point.
6 of 28
What is phase?
A measurement of the position of a certain point along the wave cycle.
7 of 28
What is phase difference?
The amount one wave lags behind the other.
8 of 28
What is a travelling/progressive wave?
A wave that transfers energy from one place to another.
9 of 28
What is a stationary/standing wave?
A wave that does not transfer energy. It can also be defined as the superposition of two progressive waves with the same frequency and wavelength, moving in opposite directions.
10 of 28
What is a transverse wave?
A wave that has an oscillation perpendicular to wave propagation. Examples include light and water.
11 of 28
What is a longitudinal wave?
A wave that has an oscillation parallel to wave propagation. Examples inclyde sound and ultrasound. Expansions in longitudinal waves can also be termed as rarefactions.
12 of 28
Give two equations which can be used to calculate the speed of a wave.
Speed = wavelength/time OR speed = frequency * wavelength
13 of 28
What equation relating to time period calculates frequency?
1/time period
14 of 28
What is a node and antinode?
Node = Where the amplitude of the vibration is zero. Antinode = Where the amplitude of the vibration is at its maximum.
15 of 28
What is a harmonic?
The idea that the resonant frequencies of stationary waves bear a relationship to each other.
16 of 28
What is reflection?
Where waves bounce back when hitting a boundary.
17 of 28
What is refraction?
When a wave changes direction as it enters a different medium. This occurs because the wave speeds up or slows down.
18 of 28
What is diffraction?
The spreading out of waves because they pass through a gap the same size as the wavelength. It produces interference.
19 of 28
What is a polarised wave?
A wave that only oscillates in one direction.
20 of 28
What does polarisation provide evidence for?
It provides evidence that electromagnetic waves are transverse (only transverse waves can be polarised). This is because transverse waves consist of alternating electric and magnetic fields perpendicular to the transfer of energy.
21 of 28
How does light become partially polarised?
When it is reflected from some surfaces. This causes surface glare which can be reduced by wearing items with polarising filters in them.
22 of 28
When does superposition occur?
When two or more waves pass through each other.
23 of 28
Define the principle of superposition.
When two or more waves cross, the resultant displacement equals the vector sum of the individual displacements of each wave.
24 of 28
What is interference?
When two waves superpose and displacement is either reinforced or cancelled.
25 of 28
What is constructive interference?
Where displacement is reinforced by superposition. It is when two crests or two troughs superpose.
26 of 28
What is destructive interference?
Where two waves cancel each other out by superposition. If a crest and trough are equal in size, the two displacements cancel each other out.
27 of 28
What phase difference means that two waves are in phase?
A phase difference of 0 or multiples of 360 degrees.
28 of 28

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What is displacement?

Back

How far a point on the wave has moved from its undisturbed position.

Card 3

Front

What is amplitude?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What is wavelength?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What is the period?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Physics resources:

See all Physics resources »See all Waves resources »