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Physics Edexcel Unit 3 notes

 Notes for Unit 3 : Waves 

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Notes Excerpt :

Unit 3: Waves

Study about sound and light waves, both waves consist of kinetic and energy and transfer energy.

Waves in solid and liquid:

Wave in liquid in terms of energy transfer and information. There are two waves which will be studied in detail. Those are Transverse and longitudinal wave.

Transverse waves:

Light (electromagnetic Spectrum) and water waves are two examples of Transverse waves. Movement of particles is perpendicular to the direction of propagation of a wave.

Longitudinal waves:

Vibration of particles is parallel to the propagation of waves. Longitudinal waves have areas pf compression and rarefaction.

Compression: Are areas of high pressure as particles are closer together.

Rarefaction: are areas of low pressure as particles are far apart. Example of longitudinal waves include: sound waves.

Description of Waves:

Amplitude (A): the distance from peak t the middle or from trough to the middle.

Wavelength (λ): the distance between two peaks or two troughs.

Frequency (f):  is number of waves per second and measured in hertz (hz). 

Time Period (T): time taken to produce one wave denoted by this symbol: λ, pronounced as lambda.

Time period and frequency are related with equation:

Wave speed:

Speed at which energy is transferred or waves moves through the medium. Speed calculated using the equation below:

It can also be calculated using v=d/t

V=velocity

D=distance

T=time taken

 

Wavefront: is a line or plane on which the vibrations of every point on it are in phase and in same distance from the source of wave.

USE OF RIPPLE TANKS TO SHOW THE RIPPLE IN WATER TANKS:

A motor is placed at the surface of water to produce waves continuously by vibrating a dipper up and down. A beam helps in producing straight waves. A light shining at the top of the glass tank helps observe the pattern of crests and troughs on screen below the tank.

Properties of waves: reflection and refraction.

Reflection:

Reflection is described using angle of incidence (i) that is the angle between the 90o (normal) at the surface from where it is reflected (metal plate). 

Angle of reflection (r) is the angle present between normal line and reflected ray.

Angle of incidence (i)=Angle of reflection (r) always.

Refraction:

This happens when density through which waves passes changes i.e., from deep to shallow water or shallow to deep water. In both the cases, frequency of waves remains same. The waves slows down and changes angle. This is called as refraction.

Image below shows: Refraction when waves move from deep to shallow; shorter wavelength, slow-moving in shallow water.

Electromagnetic waves:

The electromagnetic spectrum

A range of frequencies of electromagnetic waves which range from 1 hertz (10-12m for gamma rays) to 10 hertz or more (radio waves-2 kms), consisting of various frequencies and wavelength is known as electromagnetic spectrum.

magnetic and Electric fields

Sound waves travel through air. Water ripples along the surface of waves can travel through air. These electromagnetic waves can travel through vacuum. This energy is carried to us by changing electric and magnetic fields, which are at right angles to the direction in which wave is travelling. These are transverse wave. These waves have similar properties to the usual waves i.e., frequency and wavelength. However, the speed of light is 3 × 108 m/s. The other waves are much slower. Light travels slower in glass.

Radio waves:

These waves help transmit local and national radio broadcast. They have wavelength of few cms to transmit tv signals and international calls. The shorter-wavelength than radio waves but larger than infra-red are known as microwaves.
These microwaves are used for mobile internet connection and satellite. They are also used for cooking. It helps in penetrating further than the infra-red and so it is more conventional heating-method for cooking. Microwaves are made of metal to absorb the waves as certain wavelengths are a hazard and could burn by internally heating up the body tissues.

Infrared waves: have wavelengths between about 104 m and 106 m. Anything warmer than the surrounding object (1000 oC) will liberate heat in the form of infra-red waves. Prolonged sunlight exposure causes burn due to infra-red. These sunburns can be avoided by keeping out the sun and wearing protective clothing.

It is also used in photography where objects can be detected by the heat liberated especially at night.

Light waves: visible light which is used by eyes for vision. This is made up of 7 rainbow colours (VIBGYOR) Violet light has wavelength of 4 × 10-7 m and red light has wavelength of 7 × 10-7 .These waves are most commonly used for: transmitting information along optical waves fibres and taking photographs. But very bright light can be damaging to the eyes so sunglasses help protect eyes from damage.

Ultraviolet waves: wavelengths shorter than visible light (108 m/109 m). It is emitted from objects hotter than 4000 o c.Sources of these radiation include sun and stars. These rays can also damage eyes causing snow-blindness (sunburn of retina). Prolonged skin exposure can cause skin cancer. Hence, wearing protective clothing and sunscreen to block off rays of sun. UV lamps have fluorescence which help in detecting crime.

X-rays: wavelength of 10-10 m, can cause damage to body tissues as these penetrate the body easily and helps in taking x-rays these rays are absorbed by bone helps doctors to detect disorders of body tissues.

Gamma rays:  short wavelength emitted from nuclei of atoms. These rays are very penetrating and are emitted from nuclei of various atoms. These rays can cause mutation to cells and lead to cancer. These rays have many uses and is widely used so the amount of exposure needs to be monitored. A radiation badge monitors the exposure and people involved work behind protective screens.

Experiment to detect the colours of light:

By William Herschel was done to investigate temperature produced by each colour of visible light. The colour of light split up when passed through a prism into colours of rainbow. Then a blackened end of thermometer is kept Infront of each colour and the temperature increases. Temperature increase is the most towards the end of the red-side of the spectrum. More temperature increased furthermore which indicated infra-red rays.

Johann Ritter: other end of spectrum in which he investigated the effect of light on silver chloride which blackened by sunlight and furthermore it blackened more quickly when he moved towards violet-end indicating ultraviolet rays at this end of spectrum.

Reflection of light:

It can be reflected the same way as water as both are transverse waves. Mirrors can be used to reflect light easily. A ray box is used to produce a light beam. Ray of light before it strikes the mirror is known as the incident ray, The angle of incidence can be defined as the angle between the incident ray and normal. The normal is the line at right angles to the surface of the mirror. After reflection, the ray is called as reflected ray. The angle between the normal and reflected ray is called angle of reflection

Angle of incidence=angle of reflection and both rays line on the same plane. Shiny and smooth surface help reflect the ray and produce clear images. Rough surface does not produce a clear image.


Refraction of light:

When light travels through a medium such as glass the light rays get refracted- it changes it direction. Light travels faster in air than through a medium. The angle of refraction depends upon two things:

·        Material.

·        Angle of incidence of ray.

Refraction by a rectangular block:

Angle I =angle between normal and incident ray (AB)

Angle r= angle between normal and refracted ray (BC)

METHOD:

a)  Set up a ray box and produce a narrow ray.

b)  Position he block and mark the rays AB and CD by putting a series of pencil marks.

c)   Trace around the block and remove the block.

d)  Use a ruler to join the rays AB and CD in such a manner that they are parallel.

e)  Use protractor to mark the two normal and measure the angle of incidence and angle of refraction.

f)    Record these angles and repeat with different incident angles.

This experiment can be done with different shapes of glass block such as semi-circular and triangular prism. The results would show that:

The light ray is bent towards the normal when light enters and when light leaves the block, it is away from the normal. This occurs as the speed of waves changes.

Refractive index:

Can be calculated for 3 materials: water, glass and diamond. The refractive index (n) is the ratio of speed of light in air to the speed of light in glass. It has no unit. Calculated using:

The previous practical can be used again and tabulated for Sin I/ Sin r.

Draw a graph a graph sin I (y-axis) and Sin r (x-axis)

Gradient helps compare the refractive index of glass with other materials.

 

Refraction by prisms:

Is same as through the glass block the baseline to remember is that:

The light ray is bent towards the normal when light enters and when light leaves the block, it is away from the normal. This occurs as the speed of waves changes.  

Total internal reflection:

Happens when angle of incidence is too large, all the light rays are reflected back in glass. This is total internal reflection. If angle of incident if too small, it is bent away from he normal and if its too big it is reflected within glass.

Critical angle:

If the angle of incidence is larger than critical angle, it is reflected back into glass (red dotted ray) but if the incident ray strikes at the critical angle the ray is refracted along the surface of the block (Blue ray).


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