AS Physics

Unit 2
Definitions
longitudinal waves- oscillations are parallel to the direction of travel,
compressions and rarefactons
transverse waves- oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of travel
amplitude- maximum displacement from the equilibrium position
wavelength- shortest distance between adjacent points that are in phase
frequency- number of oscillations per second
period- time taken for one complete oscillation
in phase- crests or troughs occurs in the same place
antiphase- crest coincides with trough of another, phase difference of 180 ,
amplitudes and frequency equal
coherent- two sets of wave with the same frequency and a constant phase
difference
interference- constructive interference (in phase) and destructive interference
(out of phase)
standing waves- superposition of a continuous wave reflected from a
boundary with its incident wave
Standing wave: no (net) transfer of energy OR pattern of nodes and antinodes
OR points of maximum displacement and zero displacement
Doppler effect- When waves are emitted from a moving source or detected
by a moving receiver, the detected frequency is different from emitted
frequency. The shift in frequency is directly proportional to the relative sped of
motion.
unpolarised light- Oscillations/vibrations may occur in more than one plane,
perpendicular to the direction of travel
plane polarised light- Oscillations in one plany only, only in electric field or
magnetic field, plane includes direction of travel
current- rate of flow of charged particles (unit: C/s)
potential difference- energy transfer between two points in an electric circuit
(when 1 C of changes moves through 1 V p.d. 1 J of energy is transferred)
(unit: J/c)
emf: energy available per coulomb of charge of an electrical power source
Ohms law: current is directly proportional to p.d., provided external conditions
remain constant (2010 Jan 11(a))
power: rate of doing work/ transfer of energy
work function: the minimum energy required to release the photoelectron
from the metal surface
radiation flux: rate of which a beam of light supplies energy to a particular
area
diffraction- spreading out of a wave as it passes through an obstacle
energy level- discrete energy of an atom
photon- discrete particle of light/ quantum of electromagnetic energy
sound wave- longitudinal waves, oscillates parallel to the direction of travel,
compressions and rarefactions
energy level- discrete energy of an atom
infrasound- faster than tidal waves, lower than audible frequency, animals
can hear

Resistivity is a constant for the material

Resistance depends on (resistivity and) length / area
/dimensions of the wire
Particle Theory
Reference to E=hf or quanta of energy /packets of energy/photons (1)
Increased f means more energy of photon (1)
Release of electron requires minimum energy /work function (1)
One photon releases one electron (1)
Greater energy of photon means greater KE of electrons (1)
More intense light means more photons, therefore more electrons (1)
Wave theory
Wave energy depends on intensity (1)
More intense light should give greater K.E of electrons (1)
Energy is spread over the whole wave (1)
If exposed for long enough photons eventually released, doesnt happen (1)
2010 Jan
1, 6,10, 11c, 12b, 14d, 15b, 16, 19bc
2010 Jun
10,14,15,19,20
2011 Jan
Why ultrasound is transmitted in pulses?
One pulse must return before the next one is sent
Why is X-ray dangerous?
Because it causes ionization/mutations/damaging cells
Testing rays that is partially plane polarized
Use of polarising filter /Polaroid (not just filter)
Rotation/turning of the filter
Describe how polarising sunglasses work.
Reflected light OR light from ice is (partially) polarised (1)
(Polarising) filters/lenses/glasses are at right angles to (the plane of
polarisation of) the light
2011 Jun
How a standing wave is formed?
- two waves travelling at opposite directions
- superposition of the two waves
- antinodes and nodes formed
- waves have the same frequency
What is polarised light?
- Polarised light is when the oscillations / vibrations (associated with the
wave) are in one plane only
Plane includes direction of travel (of the wave).
Measure the angle of rotation (plane of polarization)
Mention of polarising filter/Polaroid/polariser

 Rotation (of filter) until minimum/ maximum intensity (not

rotation of solution)
(Rotation) done with and without the sugar solution
identifies correct difference in angles
use of protractor/polarimeter
2013 Jan
Why diffraction of sound is more noticeable than light
- Sound has a longer wavelength than light
Beam of electrons fired towards a thin sheet of crystalline material, pass
through it and shows up on a screen. Deduce behavior of electrons
- Electrons diffract
- show wave properties
- wavelength of electrons similar to gap of atomic size
How photoelectric effect supports wave theory (1 observation)
- increasing intensity release more electrons
- one photon release one electron
- number of electrons depend on intensity
OR
- increasing the frequency increase the kinetic energy of the electrons
- E=hf
- one photon releases one electron
Emission of line spectrum
- When an atom is excited it moves to higher energy levels
- Each atom has discrete energy
- When fall to lower level emit energy in the form of photons
- Each photon have specific energy, E= hf
Design experiment to determine resistivity
- power supply, wires, ammeter, voltmeter
- ammeter in series, voltmeter in parallel
- measure voltage, current, diameter of wire, length of wire
- plot graph of RA against L
- slope = resistivity
- A=pi*r*r
- best fit line find resistivity
2013 Jun
Polarisation
- Light aligned to one plane will be absorbed by the other, only light aligned to
the plane is
- The light for one eye has component of plane of polarization of the other eye
How pulses are related to thickness and why
- need to measure time taken for the echo
- one needs to come back before next one is sent
- longer the pulse larger the thickness

Why determination of E and r is affected

- when ammeter resistance increase current decrease
- doesnt affect determination because current through cell is measured
- if voltmeter resistance decrease will draw current
- doesnt measure the current across the cell