AQA · Physics · 8463

GCSE Physics: Properties of electromagnetic waves

Waves · AQA GCSE Physics (8463), specification point 4.6.2.2. Cards are generated from the exam board's own specification for "Properties of electromagnetic waves", and every card links back to the page it came from. Specification © AQA — used with attribution.

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  1. Why does refraction occur when an electromagnetic wave passes from one substance into another?

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    Because the wave travels at a different velocity in the two substances; the change of speed at the boundary changes the wave's direction.

  2. Refraction of electromagnetic waves is caused by a difference in the waves' ? in different substances.

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    velocity

  3. Which property of an electromagnetic wave determines how a substance absorbs, transmits, refracts or reflects it?

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    Its wavelength — the same substance can behave differently for different wavelengths.

  4. What type of diagram illustrates the refraction of a wave at the boundary between two media?

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    A ray diagram.

  5. In a wave front diagram, what change explains refraction as a wave enters a new medium?

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    A change in the wave's speed — the wavefronts bunch up or spread out at the boundary, so the wave changes direction.

  6. Wave front diagrams explain refraction in terms of the change of ? when a wave passes from one medium to another.

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    speed

  7. What does AQA GCSE Physics Required Practical 10 investigate?

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    How the amount of infrared radiation absorbed or radiated by a surface depends on the nature of that surface.

  8. Required Practical 10 investigates how the amount of ? radiation absorbed or radiated by a surface depends on the nature of the surface.

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    infrared

  9. Which apparatus and techniques (AT) skills does Required Practical 10 cover?

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    AT 1 and AT 4.

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