AP Physics 2 Flashcards: Boundary Behavior Of Waves And Polarization

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Boundary Behavior Of Waves And Polarization, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Physics 2.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: What is the difference between longitudinal and transverse waves?

Answer: Longitudinal waves oscillate parallel; transverse waves oscillate perpendicular. Describes the relationship between oscillation and propagation directions.

Flashcard 2: Define linear polarization.

Answer: Vibration occurs in a single direction perpendicular to wave travel. Electric field vector oscillates in one plane only.

Flashcard 3: Identify one factor affecting wave refraction.

Answer: The change in wave speed affects refraction. Speed changes cause direction changes at boundaries.

Flashcard 4: What is the phase difference for destructive interference?

Answer: Phase difference is odd multiples of $\text{π}$. Waves are out of phase, creating maximum cancellation.

Flashcard 5: What is the effect of a denser medium on wave amplitude?

Answer: Amplitude generally decreases in a denser medium. Denser media typically absorb more energy from waves.

Flashcard 6: Identify the condition for wave reflection at a boundary.

Answer: Reflection occurs when wave impedance changes. Impedance mismatch causes partial reflection at interfaces.

Flashcard 7: What is meant by wave impedance?

Answer: Wave impedance is the resistance a medium offers to wave motion. Characterized by the product of density and wave speed.

Flashcard 8: What is the phase difference for destructive interference?

Answer: Phase difference is odd multiples of $\text{π}$. Waves are out of phase, creating maximum cancellation.

Flashcard 9: What is the critical angle formula?

Answer: $\theta_c = \text{sin}^{-1}(\frac{n_2}{n_1})$. Critical angle depends on the ratio of refractive indices.

Flashcard 10: What is the phase difference for constructive interference?

Answer: Phase difference is $0$ or multiples of $2\text{π}$. Waves are in phase, creating maximum reinforcement.

Flashcard 11: Identify the condition for total internal reflection.

Answer: Occurs when the angle of incidence exceeds the critical angle. When $\theta_i > \theta_c$, all energy reflects and none transmits.

Flashcard 12: What is an antinode?

Answer: A point of maximum amplitude in a standing wave. Formed when incident and reflected waves interfere constructively.

Flashcard 13: What is the purpose of using polarizing filters in photography?

Answer: To reduce glare and enhance contrast. Removes unwanted reflections and improves image clarity.

Flashcard 14: What is a node?

Answer: A point of zero amplitude in a standing wave. Formed when incident and reflected waves interfere destructively.

Flashcard 15: Define wave reflection.

Answer: Wave reflection is when a wave bounces back after hitting a boundary. Energy cannot pass through the boundary, so it returns to the original medium.

Flashcard 16: What is circular polarization?

Answer: Wave's electric field rotates in a circle around the direction of travel. Electric field vector traces circular path perpendicular to propagation.

Flashcard 17: Identify one factor affecting wave refraction.

Answer: The change in wave speed affects refraction. Speed changes cause direction changes at boundaries.

Flashcard 18: Define wave refraction.

Answer: Refraction is the change in wave direction at a boundary. Speed changes cause waves to bend when entering new media.

Flashcard 19: Define destructive interference.

Answer: When waves overlap to produce a smaller amplitude. Wave crests align with troughs, creating cancellation.

Flashcard 20: What is wave diffraction?

Answer: Diffraction is the bending of waves around obstacles. Wave spreading occurs when encountering edges or apertures.

Flashcard 21: What happens to wave speed at a boundary?

Answer: Wave speed changes depending on the medium. Different media have different wave propagation speeds.

Flashcard 22: What is the formula for Brewster's angle?

Answer: $\tan(\theta_B) = \frac{n_2}{n_1}$. Derived from the condition that reflected and refracted rays are perpendicular.

Flashcard 23: What happens to wave amplitude during destructive interference?

Answer: The amplitude decreases. Wave peaks and troughs align to cancel displacement.

Flashcard 24: What is the relationship between wave speed and medium density?

Answer: Wave speed decreases with increased medium density. Inverse relationship between medium density and wave speed.

Flashcard 25: State Snell's law.

Answer: $n_1 \times \text{sin}(\theta_1) = n_2 \times \text{sin}(\theta_2)$. Relates incident and refracted angles through refractive indices.

Flashcard 26: Identify the condition for maximum diffraction.

Answer: Occurs when the aperture size is comparable to the wavelength. Significant bending occurs when $\lambda \approx$ aperture size.

Flashcard 27: What is the outcome of wave interference?

Answer: Interference results in either increased or decreased wave amplitude. Depends on phase relationship between overlapping waves.

Flashcard 28: Describe Brewster's angle.

Answer: The angle where reflected light is completely polarized. Occurs when the reflected ray is perpendicular to the refracted ray.

Flashcard 29: What happens to light intensity after passing through a polarizer?

Answer: Intensity is reduced by half. Unpolarized light becomes 50% intensity after polarization.

Flashcard 30: What happens to wave speed at a boundary?

Answer: Wave speed changes depending on the medium. Different media have different wave propagation speeds.

Flashcard 31: What occurs to wave frequency when crossing a boundary?

Answer: Wave frequency remains unchanged. Frequency is an intrinsic property that doesn't change across boundaries.

Flashcard 32: Define wave reflection.

Answer: Wave reflection is when a wave bounces back after hitting a boundary. Energy cannot pass through the boundary, so it returns to the original medium.

Flashcard 33: State Snell's law.

Answer: $n_1 \times \text{sin}(\theta_1) = n_2 \times \text{sin}(\theta_2)$. Relates incident and refracted angles through refractive indices.

Flashcard 34: How does wave frequency affect diffraction?

Answer: Higher frequency reduces diffraction. Shorter wavelengths diffract less around obstacles.

Flashcard 35: What is wave diffraction?

Answer: Diffraction is the bending of waves around obstacles. Wave spreading occurs when encountering edges or apertures.

Flashcard 36: What occurs to light waves at Brewster's angle?

Answer: Reflected light is completely polarized. At this specific angle, reflected light has maximum polarization.

Flashcard 37: What is the effect of polarization on glare reduction?

Answer: Polarization reduces glare. Eliminates horizontally polarized reflected light from surfaces.

Flashcard 38: What is the effect of polarization on light intensity?

Answer: Polarization reduces the light intensity. Filtering light waves removes some energy from the beam.

Flashcard 39: What happens to light intensity after passing through a polarizer?

Answer: Intensity is reduced by half. Unpolarized light becomes 50% intensity after polarization.

Flashcard 40: What is a node?

Answer: A point of zero amplitude in a standing wave. Formed when incident and reflected waves interfere destructively.

Flashcard 41: What happens to a wave's speed when it enters a denser medium?

Answer: The wave's speed decreases. Denser media have higher refractive indices, slowing wave propagation.

Flashcard 42: What is polarization of light?

Answer: Polarization is restricting the vibration of light waves to one plane. Only transverse waves can be polarized, not longitudinal waves.

Flashcard 43: What is the effect of a denser medium on wave amplitude?

Answer: Amplitude generally decreases in a denser medium. Denser media typically absorb more energy from waves.

Flashcard 44: What is the formula for Brewster's angle?

Answer: $\tan(\theta_B) = \frac{n_2}{n_1}$. Derived from the condition that reflected and refracted rays are perpendicular.

Flashcard 45: Define linear polarization.

Answer: Vibration occurs in a single direction perpendicular to wave travel. Electric field vector oscillates in one plane only.

Flashcard 46: Identify the condition for wave reflection at a boundary.

Answer: Reflection occurs when wave impedance changes. Impedance mismatch causes partial reflection at interfaces.

Flashcard 47: What is circular polarization?

Answer: Wave's electric field rotates in a circle around the direction of travel. Electric field vector traces circular path perpendicular to propagation.

Flashcard 48: Define isotropic medium.

Answer: A medium with uniform properties in all directions. Wave properties are identical in all spatial directions.

Flashcard 49: What is wave transmission?

Answer: Transmission is when a wave passes through a boundary into a new medium. Part of wave energy continues into the second medium.

Flashcard 50: Identify the condition for maximum diffraction.

Answer: Occurs when the aperture size is comparable to the wavelength. Significant bending occurs when $\lambda \approx$ aperture size.

Flashcard 51: What is the law of reflection for waves?

Answer: Angle of incidence equals angle of reflection. This is a fundamental principle governing all types of wave reflection.

Flashcard 52: Define destructive interference.

Answer: When waves overlap to produce a smaller amplitude. Wave crests align with troughs, creating cancellation.

Flashcard 53: What is the difference between longitudinal and transverse waves?

Answer: Longitudinal waves oscillate parallel; transverse waves oscillate perpendicular. Describes the relationship between oscillation and propagation directions.

Flashcard 54: What is the effect of polarization on glare reduction?

Answer: Polarization reduces glare. Eliminates horizontally polarized reflected light from surfaces.

Flashcard 55: What occurs to light waves at Brewster's angle?

Answer: Reflected light is completely polarized. At this specific angle, reflected light has maximum polarization.

Flashcard 56: Identify the condition for total internal reflection.

Answer: Occurs when the angle of incidence exceeds the critical angle. When $\theta_i > \theta_c$, all energy reflects and none transmits.

Flashcard 57: What is the principle of superposition for waves?

Answer: The total displacement is the sum of individual displacements. Multiple waves combine by adding their displacements at each point.

Flashcard 58: What happens to wave amplitude during constructive interference?

Answer: The amplitude increases. Wave peaks align to create larger displacement.

Flashcard 59: What is the critical angle formula?

Answer: $\theta_c = \text{sin}^{-1}(\frac{n_2}{n_1})$. Critical angle depends on the ratio of refractive indices.

Flashcard 60: What happens to wave amplitude during constructive interference?

Answer: The amplitude increases. Wave peaks align to create larger displacement.

Flashcard 61: How does wave frequency affect diffraction?

Answer: Higher frequency reduces diffraction. Shorter wavelengths diffract less around obstacles.

Flashcard 62: Define constructive interference.

Answer: When waves overlap to produce a larger amplitude. Wave crests align with crests, creating reinforcement.

Flashcard 63: What is the law of reflection for waves?

Answer: Angle of incidence equals angle of reflection. This is a fundamental principle governing all types of wave reflection.

Flashcard 64: What happens to wave amplitude during destructive interference?

Answer: The amplitude decreases. Wave peaks and troughs align to cancel displacement.

Flashcard 65: Describe Brewster's angle.

Answer: The angle where reflected light is completely polarized. Occurs when the reflected ray is perpendicular to the refracted ray.

Flashcard 66: What occurs to wave frequency when crossing a boundary?

Answer: Wave frequency remains unchanged. Frequency is an intrinsic property that doesn't change across boundaries.

Flashcard 67: What is the relationship between wave speed and medium density?

Answer: Wave speed decreases with increased medium density. Inverse relationship between medium density and wave speed.

Flashcard 68: What is the effect of polarization on light intensity?

Answer: Polarization reduces the light intensity. Filtering light waves removes some energy from the beam.

Flashcard 69: What is the purpose of using polarizing filters in photography?

Answer: To reduce glare and enhance contrast. Removes unwanted reflections and improves image clarity.

Flashcard 70: What is wave transmission?

Answer: Transmission is when a wave passes through a boundary into a new medium. Part of wave energy continues into the second medium.

Flashcard 71: Define wave refraction.

Answer: Refraction is the change in wave direction at a boundary. Speed changes cause waves to bend when entering new media.

Flashcard 72: What is meant by wave impedance?

Answer: Wave impedance is the resistance a medium offers to wave motion. Characterized by the product of density and wave speed.

Flashcard 73: What is the outcome of wave interference?

Answer: Interference results in either increased or decreased wave amplitude. Depends on phase relationship between overlapping waves.

Flashcard 74: What is the phase difference for constructive interference?

Answer: Phase difference is $0$ or multiples of $2\pi$. Waves are in phase, creating maximum reinforcement.

Flashcard 75: Define isotropic medium.

Answer: A medium with uniform properties in all directions. Wave properties are identical in all spatial directions.

Flashcard 76: What is polarization of light?

Answer: Polarization is restricting the vibration of light waves to one plane. Only transverse waves can be polarized, not longitudinal waves.

Flashcard 77: What happens to a wave's speed when it enters a denser medium?

Answer: The wave's speed decreases. Denser media have higher refractive indices, slowing wave propagation.

Flashcard 78: What is the principle of superposition for waves?

Answer: The total displacement is the sum of individual displacements. Multiple waves combine by adding their displacements at each point.