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Applications of Electromagnetic Spectrum

Radio Waves: Radio and television communications to broadcast signals.

 Radio waves have the ability to go around obstructions due to their longer wave lengths. For this
reason, radio waves are used mainly for terrestrial broadcast (land to land). They can easily travel
around buildings,hills and around earth’s curvature without much loss in signal
 Transmitter: An aerial (transmitter) is used to send radio waves into air
 Receiver: Another aerial is present a few kilometers away to capture the radio waves
 Repeater/Booster Stations: Used when there is a loss in signal strength. They increase the strength
of broadcast signal and then send it to another aerial or booster station

Other Uses:
 Wireless telegraphy
 Radar
 Navigation systems

Microwaves: Satellite television and telephone

 Microwaves can pass easily through earth’s atmosphere into space and can cover a large area over
the horizon because there are no obstructions present
 Unlike radio waves, microwaves cannot go around obstructions so they are not suitable for

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terrestrial broadcast (land to land) as much of the signal will be lost
 Radio waves are not suitable for satellite television because radio waves spread out as they travel
in air and their strength decreases. (In satellite broadcast, waves travel a long distance of few
thousand kilometers to reach the aerial/receiver in space, hence using radio waves will result in
significant signal loss)
 Microwaves can be hazardous for health and can cause internal damage to body tissues

Satellite Television:
 Transmitter: An aerial (transmitter) is used to send microwaves into the space. The transmitter
should be located on the top of some high rise building or tower as microwaves cannot travel
around obstructions
 Receiver: An aerial present thousand kilometers away in space receives the microwaves and
amplifies them. Amplified microwaves are sent back to earth to subscribers in different parts of the
world

Satellite Telephone:
 Microwaves are also used to transmit mobile phone signals between masts (signal towers) which
may be up to 20 km apart
 Repeaters/Boosters: They increase the strength of mobile signal and then send it to another aerial
or booster station

Other uses:
 Microwaves ovens (microwaves cause molecules in food to vibrate at very high speed resulting in
friction which heats up the food)
 GPS/Satellite Navigation

Infra-Red: Household electrical appliances, television controllers and intruder alarms.

 All objects emit radiations in the form of Infra-Red Waves.
 The hotter the object, the more IR radiation it emits
 Detector/sensors are used in several applications which send out and/or pick-up Infrared radiations
or any changes in IR radiation emitted by objects or human body

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Household Electrical Appliances:
 Used in Grills and toasters as IR radiation are heat waves

Television Controllers (Remote Controller):

 They contain a small infra red transmitter
 Transmitter sends a beam of IR Radiation carrying a coded signal to the appliance (TV)
 The signal then changes channel, increases or decreases volume or perform other functions

Intruder Alarms:
 Human body gives out thermal radiation in the form of IR. If an intruder enters secure area, sensor
picks up the IR radiation being emitted by the intruder and sound the alarm.
 In another method, Intruder Alarms sent out beams of IR and detect changes in the reflected
radiation. Any change detected or a broken IR beam may indicate the presence of an intruder.

Other Uses:
 IR Cameras/ Night-Vision devices
 ear thermometers

Light: Optical fibres in medicine and telecommunications (telephone)

 Optical fibres are very thin and flexible glass pipes. A single fibre optic cable comprises thousands

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of strands of optical fibres
 It consists of a fibre of denser transparent material (glass), coated with a layer (cladding) of a less
dense transparent material
 As light travels from more dens (glass core) to less dens (cladding), at an angle greater than critical
angle, it undergoes total internal reflection

Optical Fibres in Medical:

 They are used in a procedure called endoscopy to view internal organs particularly stomach
 Light travel along the fibre and illuminates Internal organ
 Light/image returns from body/organ
 They are suitable for internal examination of stomach because:
o optical fibres can bend easily / less likely to break
o due to TIR, no loss in light energy, so higher resolution/more detail /smaller objects can be
seen/wider field of view

Optical Fibres in Telecommunication:

 Telephone conversations/internet data are carried as brief pulses of light in optical fibres
 Over long distances, strength of light signals is reduced. Signals are boosted using repeaters
 Optical fibres are suitable for use in telecommuncation because:
o More telephone conversations/data can be sent using optical fibres as compared to copper
wires
o Less interference/noise in signals
o Less loss in signals

Other Uses:
 visible light is needed to view things

Ultra-Violet: Sunbeds, fluorescent tubes and sterilisation

UV - is found naturally in sunlight. We cannot see or feel ultraviolet radiation, but our skin responds to it
by turning darker.

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Sunbeds:
 UV lamps used in sunbeds emit UV which is used for artificial tanning
 UV radiation is absorbed by skin which stimulates melanocytes (cells in the lower skin layers).
 Melanocytes produce melanin, a brownish pigment which tans the body.
 Too much exposure can be a health hazard and may damage eyes, skin or even cause skin cancer

Fluorescent tubes:
 When current passes through fluorescent tubes filled with mercury vapor, it produces UV radiation.
 A powder coating on the inside of the tube absorbs it and converts this UV radiation into visible light

Sterilisation:
 Germicidal UV lamps are used for sterilizing medical equipment as UV radiation destroys
microorganisms
 Bacteria absorbs UV radiation which stops bacteria from multiplying and kill them

X-Rays: hospital use in medical imaging and killing cancerous cells, and engineering
applications such as detecting cracks in metals and security scanners
 X-rays easily penetrate into human flesh and are strongly absorbed by dens material such as bone and
metals
 They produce ionization, fluorescence and photoelectric effect
 They can be detected using a suitable detector such as fluorescent screen, photographic plate/film, GM tube,

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etc
 X-rays are very dangerous for health and may result in cancer, hair loss, radiation sickness, etc

Medical Imaging/Radiography:
 X-rays can easily penetrate into the flesh and are absorbed by bones, they are used in hospitals to scan and
produce images of bones of patients.
 The images can be produced on photographic films
 Low frequency X-rays are used to diagnose any fracture in bones or even tooth decay.

Treatment of Cancer/Radiography:
 High frequency x-ray beams are directed towards tumour to kill cancerous cells
 Tumour/Cancer absorbs X-rays.
 High energy of X-rays stops the cancerous cell from multiplying/growing and kills them

Engineering Applications/Detection of Cracks:

 As X-rays can easily penetrate into solid metals, they are used in security scanners at airports to scan and
reveal the content of passenger’s luggage
 They are also used by engineers to detect cracks in metals. More X- rays are able to pass through cracks.
 Similarly, they can be used to check quality of weld joints. Image of crack/weld can be viewed on X- ray film.

Other Uses:
 Crystallography (diffraction of X-rays indicates pattern of atoms)
 Astronomy (hot stars emit x-rays)

Gamma-Rays: killing cancerous cells and engineering applications such as detecting cracks in metal
[Same as for X-rays]

Other Uses:
 Used as a tracer (radioactive isotope)

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SOUND
Production of Sound Waves
 Sound is a form of energy that passes from one point to another in the form of a longitudinal wave
 Sound waves are produces by vibrating sources placed in a medium such as air
 When a vibrating source, such as a tuning fork, starts vibrating it passes on the vibrations to the
neighboring molecules/particles of the medium through collisions. This causes the molecules of the
medium to move forwards and backwards setting up a series of compressions and rarefactions
(longitudinal wave)

Example – Tuning Fork

Vibration in the tuning fork produces disturbances in the surrounding air. When the prongs’ movement is
outwards/forward, the prongs push the surrounding air molecules, creating a compression. This disturbance
of air layers is then passed from molecule to molecule by collisions, causing the compression to move
outward/forward.
When the prongs’ movement is inwards/backward a rarefaction
is created. Pressure differences cause the air molecules to rush
back into the region again. This periodic to-and-fro movement of
the prongs creates alternating regions of compressions and
rarefactions.

Longitudinal Nature of Sound Waves

Sound is a longitudinal wave. Particles/molecules of medium

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vibrate in a direction parallel to the direction of wave motion

Compression: Region where molecules of medium move closer together or Region where pressure
increases

Rarefaction: Region where molecules of medium move further apart or Region where pressure
decreases

Audible Frequency Range

The approximate range of audible frequencies for the healthy human ear is 20 Hz to 20 000 Hz (20 kHZ)

Sound Needs Medium to Travel

Sound needs medium to travel. It cannot pass through vacuum because sound needs matter
(atoms/molcules) that collide with each other to pass on the vibrations (energy) from one point to another.

Experiment to Demonstrate that Sound Needs Medium to

Travel
An electric bell is suspended inside an airtight glass jar. The jar is
connected to a vacuum pump.
The switch of the bell is turned on. Air is removed slowly.
At first the sound of bell is heard clearly. As the air is pumped out,
the sound starts to become feeble/decreases. After the air is
completely removed, no sound is heard.

Method to Determine Speed of Sound in Air:

Method # 1:
 Two persons A and B stand several hundred meters apart (around 1000 m) in an open field such that
there is no obstacle between them. The distance (d) between the two persons is measured using a tape
measure (or trundle wheel or pedometer).
 Person A fires a flare gun and person B on seeing the flash starts a
stop watch stops it on hearing the sound of the gun. The time (t) is
noted.
 Speed can be calculated using the formula: v = d / t
 To improve accuracy, the experiment should be repeated with
person B now firing the gun and person A recording the time so as
to reduce the effect of direction of wind
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Method # 2:
 A person stands some distance away from a hard
surface such as a wall. The distance (d) between the
person and the wall is measured using a tape
measure or rulers.
 He uses two blocks of wood to make a short, distinct
clap and starts the stop watch at same time. As he
hears the echo of first clap, he claps again so that
the sound of 2nd clap coincides with the sound of 1st
echo. He makes 10 claps, timing each next clap with
previous clap’s echo.
 The person records time (T) for 10 claps, this time is divided by 10 to get the time (t) for one echo.
 Speed can now be calculated by using the formula: v = 2d / t

Order of magnitude of the speeds of sound in air, liquids and solids

 Sound travels slowest in Air/Gases
 Speed of sound in liquids is less than that in solids but more than that in air
 Sound travels fastest in Solids

Loudness: It depends on the amplitude of the sound wave. The larger the amplitude, the louder the
sound

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Pitch: It depends on the frequency of the sound wave. The higher the frequency, the higher the pitch

Echo:
 Reflection of sound wave is called echo.
 When sound wave hits a hard surface, it is reflected
back and can be heard again. This reflected sound
is known as echo.
 Reflected sound wave has same speed, frequency,
wave length and amplitude as that of the original
sound.
 The amplitude of the reflected sound may be smaller if there is energy loss during the travelling of
sound. In such case, the echo produced is weaker (not as loud as the original sound).
 Energy loss may happen because sound gets absorbed (by obstacles), or because it spreads out or
reflected/scattered in different directions
 Sound waves also obey laws of reflection. (< i = < r)

Experiment to Demonstrate that Sound Obeys Laws of Reflection:

 Take two cardboard tubes. Hold the two tubes against a flat
and hard surface and place a big cardboard sheet between the
two tubes.
 Place a ticking watch at the open end of one tube and ask a
person to place his ear at the open end of the second tube.
 Ask the person to slightly move the tube sideways till ticking of
the watch is heard clearly.
 Measure the angle that the two tubes make with the normal at
the point of incidence. It will be found that the angle of
incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.

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 Repeat the experiment by changing angle of incidence each time.

Quality/Timbre:
 The property of a sound which helps to distinguish between two sounds of same loudness (amplitude)
and pitch (frequency) is called Quality or timbre
 Sound waves may be regarded as the combination of different frequencies. The simplest one is called
Fundamental frequency. It determines the pitch. The other frequencies are known as OVERTONES OR
HARMONICS. Two or more sound may have the same loudness and the same pitch but that they have
different overtones. The quality of a sound depends upon the wave form (of the resultants).
 Quality of a sound wave can be studied using wave forms (shape of a sound wave) as displayed by a
cathode ray oscilloscope (c.r.o). Two sounds of different quality will have a different wave form (shape)
on the c.r.o.

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Ultrasound: Sound waves having frequency greater than 20,000 Hz

Uses of Ultrasound:
 Cleaning: used in cleaning sensitive artifacts, exquisite jewelry,
watches, surgical equipment, etc.
o Object to be cleaned is immersed in a liquid
o ultrasound waves are passed through the liquid
o High frequency waves shake off dirt and grease.

 Quality Control: to find thickness of objects such as metal plate, to

detect cracks or flaws in metals. If there is a crack, ultrasound is
reflected by it.

 Pre-natal scanning: to find well-being of a fetus. Ultrasound waves are transmitted into body. They are
reflected by the fetus (baby) and used to form an image on a monitor.

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Revision Notes – Unit 14 – Light

Light:
 Light is a form of energy.
 It is electromagnetic in nature
 Travels with speed of 3 x 108 m/s in vacuum

Reflection of Light:
When a ray of light strikes a surface it bounces back into the same medium. This is called Reflection
Incident Ray: Light ray striking the reflecting surface.
Reflected Ray: Light ray reflected from the reflecting surface
Normal: The perpendicular to the reflecting surface at the point of incidence.
Angle of incidence (i): The angle between the incident ray and the normal.
Angle of reflection (r): The angle between the reflected ray and the normal.

Laws of Reflection
 The incident ray, reflected ray and the normal all lie on the same plane.
 Angle of incidence = Angle of Reflection

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Image Formation in Plane Mirror
Step 1: locate the position of image (I) taking equal perpendicular distance on the other side of the mirror
(object distance = image distance)
Step 2: Draw at least two diverging rays from image directly to the eye. (The two rays will cut the mirror at
two points).
Step 3: Join the object (O) to the two rays that cut the mirror to get the incident rays.

Note:
 Lines joining the object to the reflected rays on the mirror represent the incident rays.
 Continuous (firm) lines from the mirror to eye indicate the reflected rays.
 Broken lines from the image to mirror indicate virtual rays.

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Characteristics of Image formed in Plane Mirror

 Virtual and upright
 Same size as the object
 As far behind the mirror as the object is in front of the mirror (Object distance = Image distance)
 Laterally inverted (left side appears to be on right and right side appears to be on left)
 Image cannot be formed on the screen. Light rays do not meet at the image position. It is an imaginary
image.

Experiment to Illustrate Laws of Reflection

Apparatus: drawing board, a white sheet of paper, few common pins and a plane mirror.
Procedure:
1. Pin the white sheet of paper firmly on the drawing board. Place the plane mirror on it and trace its
outline on the paper. Then remove the mirror and draw normal at the centre of mirror outline.
2. Now place the mirror again on the outline. Next place two pins in a straight line at some angle to one
side of the normal on the sheet of paper.
3. Next place two pins on the other side of the normal in such a way that these two pins lie in a straight
line with the reflected images of the two pins.
4. Now remove the mirror and the pins and join the pin marks to the normal.
5. Measure Angle of Incidence and Angle of Reflection (i = r)

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Difference between Real and Virtual Image

Real Image Virtual Image

It can be captured on screen
It has physical existence
It is always inverted
It is formed when reflected or refracted
rays actually meet at a point.
It cannot be captured on screen
It has no physical existence
It is always upright
It is formed when rays are extended
backwards to make them meet at a point.

Refraction of Light:
When a ray of light travels from one medium to another medium it undergoes change in its velocity (speed
as well as direction). This phenomenon is called Refraction

Angle of incidence (i): The angle between the incident ray and the normal.
Angle of reflection (r): The angle between the refracted ray and the normal.

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Explanation:
 When light travels from a less dens to a more dens medium, the refracted ray bends towards the
normal. (r < i)
 When light travels from a more dens to a less dens medium, the refracted ray bends away from the
normal. (r > i)
 When light enters perpendicular to the surface (< i = 90°), there is no bending or change in direction.
Only speed changes. (i = r = 0)

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Refractive Index:
The ratio between sine of angle of incidence to the sine of angle of refraction is constant for all rays passing
from one medium to another medium. This constant is called Refracted Index.
It is denoted by η. Refractive index has no unit. It is just a number as it is ratio of two similar quantities

It is also defined as ratio of speed of light in vacuum (or air) to the speed of light in given medium or
material

Also:
The greater the value of the refractive index, the greater the bending of light, the more the light is slowed
down and the denser the medium is.

Total Internal Reflection:

When a ray of light is travelling from more dense to a less dense medium, angle of refraction is greater
than angle of incidence. If angle of incidence is gradually increased, the corresponding angle of refraction
also increases. If angle of incidence exceeds the critical angle, light is not refracted but is reflected back
into the same medium. This phenomenon is called Total Internal Reflection.

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Critical Angle: The angle of incidence for which the corresponding angle of refraction is 90° is called the
critical angle. (At this point the refracted ray runs along the boundary of two medium)

Conditions for Total Internal Reflection:

1. Ray of light should be travelling from a more dense to a less dense medium.
2. Angle of incidence should be greater than the critical angle.

Relationship between Refractive Index and Critical Angle:

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Angle of refraction (r = sin 90° = 1) is measured in less dense medium/air
Angle of incidence or Critical angle (c) is measured in more dense medium

Optical Fibre:
Optical fibres are used in the field of telecommunications to carry telephone signals and other modern
communication systems using laser beams.
An optical fibre is a very thin glass fiber (of about 1/1000 mm) inside which light can be made to travel
along a curved path. It is composed of two different types of glass. The inner core is more dense than the
outer one. As the fibres are narrow, light entering inner core always strike the boundary of the two glasses
at an angle greater than critical angle. This allows total internal reflection to take place every where inside
the fiber. In this way, light can travel with little loss because light is totally reflected whenever it strikes the
core cladding interface.

Advantages:
 Very light in weight.
 More flexible and cheaper than copper cables.
 Information/data can be sent much faster, at the speed of light.
 Less loss in signals and more reliable
 Information carrying capacity of light is much greater than that of electricity or radio waves. Hence, a
single strand of an optical fiber can carry several thousand telephone calls/data at the same time
without interfering with each other.

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Lenses:
 Converging Lens or Convex lens  converges beam of light passing through it
 Diverging Lens or Concave lens  diverges/scatters beam of light passing through it

Basic Terminologies
Optical Center: It is the geometrical center of lens
Principal Axis: An imaginary horizontal line passing through Optical Centre
Focal Point: Parallel beam light rays traveling parallel to principal axis after refraction converges to a single
point F on the principal axis called Focal Point
Focal Length: Distance from the focal point to the optical center is called the focal length

Action of a thin Converging Lens on a Beam of light

Action of a thin Diverging Lens on a Beam of light I

Rules for Construction of Ray Diagram in

Lenses
1. A ray parallel to the principal axis after refraction
passes through the focus.

2. A ray passing through the Optical Center of the

lens travels straight without suffering any
deviation/bending

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3. A ray passing through the principal focus of lens

emerge parallel to the principal axis after refraction.

Image Formation in Converging (Convex) Lens

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Image Formation in Diverging/Concave Lens

Characteristics:
 Virtual and upright
 same side of lens
 Highly diminished
 Used in flashlights or headlights
of vehicles

Image Formation in Human Eye – Defects and Correction

Linear Magnification:
The ratio of height of image to the height of object is called Linear Magnification. It is denoted by ‘M’
Mathematically;

Linear Magnification “M” has no units. It is just a number as it is ratio of two similar quantities

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Application of Lenses:

Magnifying Glass:
 Place object within focal length
of the lens (between F & O)
 View from other side/look
through lens
 A virtual, upright and highly
magnified image is produced

Camera:

 Camera works in similar way as human eye. When an object is placed beyond 2F in front of a convex
lens, a real, inverted and diminished image is formed.
 For a clear and sharp image, rays should be focused on the film/screen. If rays (image) do not converge
on the film but in front or behind the film, the image formed will be blurred

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 Blurred image can be made sharp by adjusting the distance “d” between the film and the lens. This is
done by moving the camera lens outwards or inwards as required
 Camera lens is moved away from the film (outwards) to focus on a near object, and towards the film
(inwards)to focus on a distant object

Case I – when object is far

way/distant from the camera
 Rays coming from far away
are parallel. Hence image is
formed at Principal focus of
the lens. (Parallel rays
converge at F)
 To get a clear and sharp
image, distance between the
film and lens should be equal
to one focal length (d = f)
 If image is being formed
before the film or object moves closer, then lens should be moved outwards (or away from the film) to
get a sharp image.

Case II – when object is Near-by/Close to the camera

 Rays coming from a closer object are diverging. Hence image is formed at distance greater than the
Principal focus of lens
 To get a clear and sharp image, distance between the film and lens should be greater than the focal
length of lens (d > f)
 If image is being formed behind the film or object moves away from camera, then lens should be moved
inwards (or towards the film) to get a sharp image

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Projector:
Slide is placed so that it is in between F and 2F of the lens. This produces a magnified and real image of
the slide on the screen
 Light Source/Lamp: used to illuminate the object/slide
 Concave Mirror: reflects light back to reduce loss of light and increase illumination
 Condenser lenses: converges the light evenly onto the object/slide
 Projection Lens: produces a real, inverted and magnified image of the illuminated slide on screen.
Projector lens is moved towards the slide to increase the magnification and vice versa

Photographic Enlarger:
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 Working principle of a photographic enlarger is same as that of
projector
 The photograph/negative is placed in the slide holder. The
arrangement of lamp and condenser lenses provide even
illumination to the photograph
 First with the help of focusing (converging) lens, a sharp image is
pre-focused onto base sheet (without the photographic paper).
After the lens is adjusted to get required enlargement of the
photograph, lamp is switched off.
 A sheet of photographic (light sensitive) paper is then placed on
the base sheet. Lamp is switched on again for a set time to
“expose” image on to the photographic paper which is then
developed and glazed.

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Diffraction of Waves
Diffraction of waves is a phenomenon that refers to the spreading out of waves when they
move through a gap or round an obstacle.

Characteristics of Diffraction of Waves

Wavelength: The wavelength of the diffracted waves is the same as that of the incident waves.
Frequency: The frequency of the diffracted waves is the same as that of the incident waves.
Speed: The speed of the diffracted waves is the same as that of the incident waves.
Direction: The direction of propagation of the diffracted waves depends on the width of the
gaps or obstacles. For smaller gaps and obstacles, the change of direction is more – the spread
is bigger.
Amplitude: The amplitude of the diffracted waves is smaller than that of the incident waves.

Diffraction of Plane Waves in a Ripple Tank Experiment

Aim: To study the characteristics of diffraction of plane waves in a ripple tank.
Material: White paper as screen
Apparatus: Ripple tank with its accessories, stroboscope
Method:

The ripple tank is arranged as shown in Figure.

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The legs of the ripple tank are adjusted so that the base of the tank is horizontal. The tank is
filled with water.

A horizontal vibrating beam is used to create plane waves.

The speed of the motor is adjusted to produce a train of waves that can be clearly observed on
the screen with the help of a stroboscope.

The barriers are adjusted for different widths of the gap.

The wavefronts that emerge from the gap are observed and recorded.

The width of the gap is fixed but the frequency of the motor is adjusted.

The wavefronts that emerge from the gap are observed and recorded.

The barriers are replaced with obstacles of different widths and the ‘shadow’ of each obstacle is
observed and recorded.

Observations:

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wave bending round the edge of a barrier.

If the wavelength of the waves is shorter the spreading, diffraction, effect is much smaller
as well.

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Complete the text below, by filling in the missing words:

Diffraction occurs whenever waves pass through a ______ or around an ___________. This causes
the wavefronts to become curved.

Significant diffraction only occurs when the ______________ of the wave is approximately _________
to the size of the gap. As the size of the gap ____________ the diffraction effect becomes greater.

1 Fig. 1.1 shows crests of a plane water wave approaching a barrier with a gap.

crests barrier

direction of travel
of water wave

Fig. 1.1

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2 (a) Fig. 2.1 shows a wave on the sea approaching a harbour.

harbour walls

harbour

wave crests

Fig. 2.1

(i) On Fig.2.1, draw three wave crests in the harbour. [2]

(ii) Another harbour has a much wider gap between its walls.

Describe and explain how the pattern of wave crests in this harbour is different from the
pattern you have drawn in (i).

description ..........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

explanation .........................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

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3 (a) Fig. 3.1 shows wavefronts of a wave approaching a narrow gap and passing through the gap.
The wavelength is λ.

wavefronts gap barrier

direction of
travel

barrier

Fig. 3.1

(i) State the name of the process that occurs as the wave passes through the gap.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]
λ
(ii) A wave with a wavelength approaches the same gap.
2
On Fig. 3..2, draw three wavefronts for this wave as it approaches the gap and three
more wavefronts as the wave continues beyond it. [3]

Fig. 3.2

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4 (a) Fig. 4.1 shows wavefronts approaching a gap in a barrier.

wavefront

barrier

Fig. 4.1

(i) On Fig. 4.1, draw three wavefronts to the right of the barrier. [2]

(ii) Fig. 4.2 shows the gap in the barrier increased to five times the gap in Fig. 4.1.

wavefront

barrier

Fig. 4.2

On Fig. 4.2, draw three wavefronts to the right of the barrier. [2]

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5 Fig. 5.1 represents wavefronts of a water wave on the surface of water approaching a gap in a
barrier.

barrier with gap

direction of travel
of wavefronts

Fig. 5.1

(a) The wavefronts to the right of the barrier spread out as far as the dashed lines in Fig. 6.1.

(i) State the name of the process of spreading out.

.......................................................................................................................................[1]

(ii) Draw four wavefronts to the right of the barrier. [2]

(b) (i) State the effect of increasing the width of the gap in the barrier.

...........................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................[1]

(ii) State and explain the effect of decreasing the frequency of the water wave.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................[2]

[Total: 6]
KHALID BASHIR
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Glass prisms and dispersion of light

Path of light through the glass prism
A ray OM making an angle i1 with the normal at M is refracted towards the
normal along MN and away from the normal at N along NS.

Note that light rays from less dense to a denser medium is refracted towards
the normal while a light ray from denser to light medium is refracted away
from then normal.

Dispersion of white light by a transparent medium

Dispersion of whit light is the separation of white light in to its component
colors by a transparent medium due to their speed differences in the medium.

When white light falls on a transparent medium, its different component colors
travel with different speeds through the medium.

They are therefore deviated by different amounts on refraction at the surface

of the medium and hence dispersion.

KHALID BASHIR
26

KHALID BASHIR