A Level OCR Physics Module 2 - Waves

• Wave


  Transfer of energy through a medium by oscillation from one form of energy to another
• Super positition

  The interference of coherent waves
• Constructive interference

  Normal wave

  No effect
• Destructive interference


  Cancel out
• Node

  Destructive wave
• Anti node

  Constructive wave
• Refraction

  Change of direction of light through a different medium
• Optically dense object

  Makes the wave change speed and bend
• Wave speed equation

  V = f x wavelenth
• Snells law equation

  n = sin i / sin r

  
  

  Refractive index (only what happens in a vacuum)
• Critical angle equation

  sin (theta) = I / n
• First order

  The first bright spot
• Nth order equation

  N wavelenth = xd / D
• Quantums

  small quantities of energy
• Photons

  Small packets of energy
• Energy of a photon equation

  Ep = h x f
• Plancks constant [h]

  6.63 x 10^-34 Js
• Threshold frequency


  The lowest frequency of radiation that qill result in the emission of electrons from a particular metal surface

  For most it occurs in the ultraviolet region

  1 electron per photon is released
• Photoelectric equation

  h x f = threshold frequency + max kinetic energy
• Standing wave

  Formed by the interference of two waves o the same frequency travelling in opposite directions
• Proof that light is a wave

  Interference

  Diffraction

  Polarisation
• Proof that light is a particle

  Photoelectric effect