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SingaporeCombined ScienceQuick questions
Physics: Waves, Electricity and Magnetism
Quick questions on Light and waves explained: O-Level Combined Science
7short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is describing a wave?Show answer
A wave carries energy from one place to another without transferring matter. Key terms:
What is the wave equation?Show answer
The speed, frequency and wavelength are linked by:
What is reflection of light?Show answer
When light hits a plane mirror it reflects so that the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection, both measured from the normal (the line at to the surface). The image in a plane mirror is the same size, upright, and as far behind the mirror as the object is in front (a virtual image).
What is refraction of light?Show answer
When light passes from one material into another, such as from air into glass, it changes speed and so bends. Going into a denser medium (air to glass) it slows down and bends toward the normal; going into a less dense medium (glass to air) it speeds up and bends away from the normal. If the ray meets the surface along the normal it passes straight through without bending.
What is q1?Show answer
State the difference between a transverse and a longitudinal wave. [2 marks]
What is q2?Show answer
A wave travels at with a wavelength of . Find its frequency. [2 marks]
What is q3?Show answer
Explain why a ray of light bends as it passes from air into glass. [2 marks]
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