Wave Interactions
Describe what happens during constructive interference.
Constructive interference occurs when the crests of two waves overlap (and the troughs of two waves overlap) The result is a LARGER wave -- deeper troughs and higher crests than the original waves
Describe what happens during destructive interference.
Destructive interference occurs when the crests of one wave overlap with the troughs of another wave. The result is a SMALLER wave.
How are echoes produced?
Echoes are produced by reflected sound waves
True or False: Light waves diffract more than sound waves.
False! Sound diffracts easily around the edges of objects. Light does NOT diffract much around the edges of objects.
True or False: Only light waves reflect.
False: All waves (sound, light, water waves) can be reflected
Incident wave
Incoming wave (Wave that is striking a boundary)
Reflected wave
Outgoing wave (The wave that bounces off the surface of an object or boundary)
A pencil in water appears broken due to which wave interaction
Refraction
Reflection
The BOUNCING back of a wave after it strikes a barrier or object
What two factors does the amount of diff reaction depend on.
The amount of diffraction depends on the wavelength of the waves and the size of the barrier or opening.
All waves change speed when they enter a new medium but they don't always bend. Explain when bending occurs.
The bending of a wave (refraction) occurs when a wave enters a new medium at an angle. If a wave enters a new medium perpendicular to the surface, it will NOT refract.
Diffraction
The bending of a wave around a barrier or through an opening
Refraction
The bending of a wave as it passes at an ANGLE from one medium to another
True or False: Seeing an object is a result of reflection.
True! In order to see something light has to reflect off an object. Without light you could not see the object.
interference
a wave interaction that occurs when two or more waves overlap
Wave amplitude [increases or decreases] during constructive interference.
increases
