Regents Physics Exam Prep Part III: 101 Facts You Should Know
Sample problems from the blue textbook.
Wave Phenomena
1. Wavelength is the length of one complete wave (360 degrees). (pg 142, #40)
2. The period of a wave is the time it takes to complete one cycle (seconds/cycle) and the
frequency of a wave is how often the wave occurs (cycles/second). (pg 140, #11, #20)
3. Sound waves are longitudinal, so the disturbance in the medium is parallel to the
direction of motion. (pg 139, #3)
4. Transverse wave particles vibrate back and forth perpendicular to the wave direction. (pg
140, #9, 10)
5. The equation v=d/t applies for waves, too. (pg 140, #21, pg 141, #26)
6. Light slows down, bends toward the normal and has a shorter wavelength when it enters a
higher (n) value medium. (pg 158, #109-111, pg 159, #113, 114)
7. All angles in wave theory problems are measured to the normal. (pg 155, #80)
8. Blue light has more energy. A shorter wavelength and a higher frequency than red light
(remember- ROYGBIV). (pg 173, #1-3)
9. The electromagnetic spectrum (radio, infrared, visible. Ultraviolet x-ray and gamma) are
listed lowest energy to highest. (pg 158, #104-106)
10. A prism produces a rainbow from white light by dispersion (red bends the least because it
slows the least).
11. Standing waves occur when two waves of the same amplitude and wavelength travel in
opposite directions in the same medium. An example of a standing wave is a plucked
guitar string. (pg 147,#63-65)
12. Plane mirrors reflect an image of the same size as the object, at the same distance behind
the mirror. Pg 155, # 78-79)
13. Light waves are transverse .
14. The speed of all types of electromagnetic waves is 3.0 x 108 m/sec in a vacuum. (pg 155,
#72, pg 158, #108)
15. The amplitude of a sound wave determines its energy. (pg 140, #15)
16. Constructive interference occurs when two waves are zero (0) degrees out of phase or a
whole number of wavelengths (360 degrees.) out of phase. (pg 146, #54, pg 147, #58)
17. According to the Doppler effect a wave source moving toward you will generate waves
with a shorter wavelength and higher frequency. (pg 146, # 49, 51)
18. Diffraction occurs when a wave squeezes through a barrier. The wavefronts will spread
out, and the effects are most noticeable for a narrow opening and a long wavelength. (pg
162, # 25)
19. Diffuse reflection occurs from dull surfaces while regular reflection occurs from mirror
type surfaces. (pg 162, #30)
20. As the frequency of a wave increases its energy increases and its wavelength decreases.
(pg 163, #39)
21. Wave behavior is proven by diffraction, interference and the polarization of light.
22. Radiowaves are electromagnetic and travel at the speed of light (c). (pg 158, #108)
23. Monochromatic light has one frequency. (pg 158, #107)
Modern Physics
24. The particle behavior of light is proven by the photoelectric effect.
25. A photon is a massless particle of light that travels at speed c. (pg 173, #5, #6)
26. All electromagnetic waves originate from accelerating charged particles.
27. The frequency of a light wave determines its energy (E = hf). (pg 173, # 1, #3)
28. The lowest energy state of a atom is called the ground state. (pg 176, # 12)
29. Electron transitions between different energy states in an atom occur when the electron
absorbs or emits a photon of the correct energy. (pg 176, # 15, 17 pg 182, #6)
30. An atom can be ionized (losing an electron) by absorbing a photon with energy equal to
or greater than its initial energy level. (pg 177, # 34)
31. An atom has a spectrum of discrete lines that correspond to different transitions. (pg 177,
# 28-30)
32. When photons collide with other particles, both energy and momentum are conserved.
(pg 173, # 8 pg 182, # 3)
Nuclear Physics
33. All nuclei weigh less than their parts. This mass defect is converted into binding energy.
(E=mc2) ( pg 183, # 14-15)
34. Rutherford discovered the positive nucleus using his famous gold-foil experiment. (pg
185, #33)
35. Fusion requires that hydrogen be combined to make helium. (pg 183, #14-15)
36. One AMU of mass is equal to 931 MeV of energy. (pg 184, # 29-30)
37.
Energy and mass are equivalent according to Einstein's formula E = mc2
38. Subatomic particles can be classified by their interactions with other particles.
39. Quarks have fractional charges. (pg 182, # 55)
40. Baryons have integer charges and are made up of three quarks. Protons and neutrons are
examples of baryons. (pg 182, # 53)
41. An anti-particle has the same mass but the opposite charge of its associated particles. (For
example, an anti-electron has a charge of +e while an electron has a charge of -e) (pg
182, # 54, # 59)
42. A particles can annihilate with its anti-particle and convert all its mass into energy. (pg
185, # 39 - 40)
43. Nuclear forces are strong and short ranged. (pg 181, #47)