Light Waves Quiz: Test Your Knowledge on Light and Sound

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Questions and Answers

What happens to the frequency, wavelength, and speed of a wave when it is reflected?

Frequency, wavelength, and speed all remain the same (correct)

Frequency changes, wavelength and speed remain the same

Frequency and wavelength change, speed remains the same

Frequency remains the same, wavelength and speed change

In the law of reflection, what is the relationship between the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection?

They are equal (correct)

The angle of reflection is double the angle of incidence

There is no specific relationship

They add up to 180 degrees

When a wave enters a denser medium, what happens to its speed and direction of bending?

Speed decreases, bends away from the normal

Speed increases, bends towards the normal

Speed decreases, bends towards the normal (correct)

Speed increases, bends away from the normal

If a wave enters a less dense medium, how does its speed change and in what direction does it bend?

Speed increases, bends away from the normal Signup and view all the answers

Which property of a wave remains constant when it undergoes refraction?

Frequency Signup and view all the answers

What changes when wavefronts are either bunched together or spaced apart?

Wavelength Signup and view all the answers

When light reflects at a plane mirror, what phenomenon is observed?

Reflection Signup and view all the answers

In a ray diagram, what is the angle between the incident ray and the normal called?

Angle of Incidence Signup and view all the answers

In which scenario would the angle of incidence be greater than the angle of refraction?

When light enters a more optically dense medium Signup and view all the answers

What does Snell's law relate to in optics?

Angle of Incidence and Angle of Refraction Signup and view all the answers

At what condition does total internal reflection occur?

When the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle Signup and view all the answers

What happens when light enters a less optically dense medium?

The angle of incidence is less than the angle of refraction Signup and view all the answers

What must be the condition for total internal reflection to occur?

Light traveling from a more optically dense medium to a less optically dense medium Signup and view all the answers

How can the critical angle 'c' be related to the refractive index 'n'?

n = 1/sin(c) Signup and view all the answers

In optical fibers, how is information transferred using light?

By total internal reflection of light Signup and view all the answers

What type of waves are sound waves?

Longitudinal waves Signup and view all the answers

How can the speed of sound in air be measured?

By recording the time for an echo from a solid wall Signup and view all the answers

What does the greater amplitude of a sound wave indicate?

Louder volume Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Wave Properties

Waves can be bunched together or spaced apart, causing a change in pitch, as seen in the example of an ambulance siren.

Reflection

Waves can be reflected when traveling from a medium of low optical density to one of higher optical density.
The law of reflection states that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.
Frequency, wavelength, and speed remain unchanged during reflection.

Refraction

Waves can be refracted, which changes their speed, when entering a new medium.
When entering a denser medium, the wave slows down and bends towards the normal.
When entering a less dense medium, the wave speeds up and bends away from the normal.
In all cases, the frequency remains the same, but the wavelength changes, resulting in a change in velocity.

Electromagnetic Spectrum

The electromagnetic spectrum includes different types of radiation, listed in order of decreasing wavelength and increasing frequency.
The main groups of the electromagnetic spectrum include:
- Visible light (ROYGBIV)
- Other types of electromagnetic radiation (e.g. X-rays, gamma rays)
Electromagnetic waves travel at the same high speed in a vacuum and approximately the same speed in air.

Light

Light waves are transverse waves that can be reflected and refracted.
Reflection of light can be shown using a ray diagram.
Refraction of light occurs when it passes through a glass slab at an angle to its normal.
Snell's law relates the angle of incidence and angle of refraction to the refractive index of a medium.

Total Internal Reflection

Total internal reflection occurs when the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle.
At the critical angle, light will travel along the boundary between two media.
Total internal reflection requires the light to travel from a more optically dense medium to a less optically dense medium.

Optical Fibres

Optical fibres use total internal reflection to transfer information by light, even when bent.
Optical fibres are used in medicine (endoscopes) and communications (high-speed data transfer).

Sound Waves

Sound waves are longitudinal waves that can be reflected and refracted.
The range of audible frequencies for a healthy human ear is 20 Hz to 20000 Hz.
The speed of sound in air can be measured using the formula speed = distance/time.
An oscilloscope connected to a microphone can display a sound wave and find its frequency and amplitude.
The amplitude of a sound wave determines its loudness, and the frequency determines its pitch.

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Description

Test your knowledge on light waves being transverse waves, reflection, refraction, ray diagrams, and properties of sound waves. Explore how light reflects in plane mirrors and refracts when passing through different mediums.