Wave Properties Quiz

Wave Properties

• Periodic Time (T): The time taken for one complete cycle of a wave, oscillation, or vibration. Measured in seconds.
• Frequency (f): The number of complete waves produced or passing a point per second. Measured in Hertz (Hz).
• Relationship between T and f: T = 1/f (Time period equals one divided by frequency).
• Wave Speed (v): The distance a wave travels in one second. Measured in meters per second (m/s).
• Wavelength (λ): The distance between two corresponding points on a wave (e.g., crest to crest). Measured in meters (m).
• Amplitude: The maximum displacement of a wave from its undisturbed position.
• Oscillation: A repetitive back-and-forth motion.
• Transverse Wave: A wave where oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of wave travel.
• Longitudinal Wave: A wave where oscillations are parallel to the direction of wave travel.
• Displacement: The distance a point on a wave moves from its undisturbed position.
• Coherence: Two or more waves having the same frequency and a constant phase difference.
• Path Difference: The difference in distances traveled by two waves when they meet.
• Phase Difference: The amount one wave leads or lags another. Measured in degrees (360° = one full cycle).
• In Phase: Two waves with a zero phase difference.
• Antiphase (Completely Out of Phase): Two waves with a 180° phase difference.
• Superposition: When two or more waves combine, and their displacements are added.
• Constructive Interference: When superimposed waves combine to produce a larger amplitude.
• Destructive Interference: When superimposed waves combine to produce a smaller amplitude (or zero).
• Diffraction Grating: An optical device that splits and diffracts light into several beams with different wavelengths.

Types of Waves and Their Applications

• (Atomic) Emission Spectra: The specific frequencies of light emitted by an element due to electron transitions within atoms. Used to identify gases.
• Wave Equation: v = fλ (Wave speed = frequency × wavelength).
• Stationary (Standing) Wave: A wave formed by the superposition of a wave and its reflection, creating nodes (zero amplitude) and antinodes (maximum amplitude).
• Node: A point on a stationary wave with zero amplitude.
• Antinode: A point on a stationary wave with maximum amplitude.
• Resonance: When a system is forced at its natural frequency, leading to a large increase in amplitude.
• Speed of Wave on a String: v = √(T/μ) (Wave speed is the square root of tension divided by mass per unit length).
• Refraction: The change in direction of a wave (e.g., light) as it passes from one medium to another due to a change in speed.
• Refractive Index (n): The ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of light in a medium (n = c/v).
• Total Internal Reflection: When light reflects within a denser medium instead of refracting into a less dense medium (occurs when the angle of incidence exceeds the critical angle).
• Critical Angle: The angle of incidence that produces an angle of refraction of 90°.
• Optical Fibre: A thin glass fibre using total internal reflection to transmit light.
• Endoscope: An optical device using bundles of optical fibres to view hard-to-reach areas.
• Analogue Signal: A signal that continuously varies in amplitude and frequency.
• Digital Signal: A signal consisting of binary data (0s and 1s).
• Analogue-to-Digital Conversion (ADC): The process of converting analogue signals to digital signals by sampling and converting values to binary.
• Electromagnetic Spectrum: All electromagnetic waves (radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, gamma rays) with different frequencies. All travel at the speed of light in a vacuum.
• Speed of Light (in a vacuum): 3 x 10⁸ m/s.
• Inverse Square Law: The intensity of a wave decreases in proportion to the square of the distance from the source.
• Units (Prefixes): kHz (kilohertz), MHz (megahertz), GHz (gigahertz), THz (terahertz).
• Satellite Communication: Uses microwaves and radio waves for long-distance communication.
• Mobile Phones: Base stations transmit signals over limited ranges enabling communication across networks in allocated frequency bands.
• Bluetooth: Short-range communication using frequency-hopping to avoid interference.
• Wi-Fi: Medium-range connection to the internet via routers.
• Infrared: Low-power (e.g., remote controls) communication requiring line-of-sight.

Test your understanding of the fundamental properties of waves including periodic time, frequency, wave speed, and amplitude. This quiz will cover key concepts such as transverse and longitudinal waves, providing a thorough grasp of wave mechanics.