Wave Interactions & Interference - Study Guide

Diffraction is _____ if the length of the obstacle or opening is greater than the wavelength.

minor

A standing wave occurs because of a combination of constructive and destructive interference between a wave and its _____ wave.

reflected

When a wave is reflected straight back from an obstacle, the reflected wave interferes with the original wave and creates a _____.

standing wave

_____ occurs when waves interact with other waves.

wave interference

_____ interference occurs when the crests of one wave overlap the troughs of another wave.

destructive

_____ occurs when sound waves spread out and travel around obstacles or when waves pass through an opening in an obstacle.

diffraction

_____ occurs when waves bounce back from a barrier they cannot pass through.

reflection

_____ occurs when waves bend as they enter a new medium at an angle.

refraction

How much the waves diffract depends on two factors: 1. _____ 2. _____

1. the size of the obstacle 2. opening in the obstacle and the wavelength

When destructive interference occurs, the crests and troughs cancel each other out to produce a wave with _____ amplitude.

less

Diffraction is _____ if the length of the obstacle or opening is less than the wavelength.

major

An echo is an example of wave _____.

reflection

Three ways that waves may interact with matter are called _____, _____, and _____.

reflection, refraction, diffraction

When 2 waves pass each other, their _____ is affected.

amplitude

Why do waves bend as they enter a new medium?

because waves usually travel at different speeds in different media

_____ interference occurs when the crests of one wave overlap the crests of the other wave; thus, producing a wave with a greater amplitude.

constructive

Wave interference can be _____ or _____.

constructive, destructive