Wave Notes- Interactions
· There are 4 types of wave interactions:
o reflection
o refraction
o diffraction
o interference
· reflection happens when a wave bounces back after hitting a barrier it cannot go through
· All waves can be reflected:
o light waves reflecting off an object allow you to see that object.
§ mirror
o A reflected sound wave is called an echo
· The Law of Reflection states that the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection
Angle of Incidencethe angle between the incoming wave and the imaginary vertical line. / Angle of Reflection
the angle between the reflected wave and the imaginary line.
· Refraction is the bending of a wave as the wave pass from one medium to another at an angle.
· When a wave moves from one medium to another, the wave’s speed changes.
o As a result, the wave bends and travels in a new direction
· Label which part of the wave is traveling at a faster speed:
· Diffraction is the bending of waves around a barrier or through an opening.
· Diffraction depends on 2 things:
o wavelength
o size of the barrier or opening
· interference is the result of two or more waves overlapping.
· 2 types of interference:
o constructive
o destructive
· constructive interference occurs when the crest and trough of 1 wave overlap with the crest and trough of another wave.
o The result is a new wave that has a higher amplitude than the original waves had
· destructive interference occurs when the crest of 1 wave and the trough of another wave overlap.
o The new wave will have smaller amplitude than the original waves had.
o When the waves involved in destructive interference have the same amplitude and meet each other at just the right time, the result is no wave at all.
· Label each as either constructive or destructive interference: