Wave

Page
2

Reflection

the turning back of a wave when

it reaches the boundary of the

medium through which it is traveling

Slide 13

Law of Reflection

the angle of incidence is equal

to the angle of reflection

Slide 14

There are two types of reflection.

Fixed-end Termination

the reflected wave is

inverted when it reflects

from a more dense medium

Free-end Termination

the reflected wave is

upright when it reflects

from a less dense medium

Click here to view these types of reflection.

Slide 15

Refraction

the bending of a wave as it passes obliquely from one medium into another of different propagation speed

For refraction to occur, the wave

must change speed and must enter

the new medium at an oblique angle.

Slide 16

Diffraction

the spreading of a wave

around a barrier or

through an opening

Slide 17

Interference

the result of the superposition

of two or more waves

Superposition Principle

the displacement of the medium when

two or more waves pass through

it at the same time is the algebraic

sum of the displacements caused

by the individual waves

Slide 18

Types of Interference

Constructive

results in a larger amplitude

Destructive

results in a smaller amplitude

Slide 19

Read more about interference here.

Click here to view the interference

pattern resulting from the superposition

of two transverse waves.

Click here and here to view

simulations of the interference of

two circular waves.

Slide 20

You can view reflection,

refraction, diffraction,

and interference using both

plane and circular waves.

Click here to view a movie

clip of an actual ripple tank experiment.

The ripple tank

simulation found

here can be used

to investigate

wave properties.

Slide 21

A standing wave is the

result of two wave trains of the same

wavelength, frequency, and amplitude

traveling in opposite directions

through the same medium.

Slide 22