McNair Middle School Physical Science

Wave Interactions Reflection Reflection The bouncing back of a ray of light, sound, or heat when the ray hits a surface that does not go through. All waves can be reflected Ex: Sun/moon and echo

Wave Interactions Refraction: the bending of a wave as the wave passes between two substances in which the speed of the wave differs. Refraction Basically the bending of a wave as the wave passes from one medium to another When a wave moves from one medium to another, the wave’s speed changes. When the wave enters the new medium its wavelength changes also Ex: pencil in water

Wave Interactions Diffraction A change in the direction of a wave when the wave finds an obstacle or an edge, such as an opening. The amount of diffraction depends on the wavelength and the size of the barrier or opening that the wave encounters. Ex: Sound waves vs light waves htm

Wave Interference The combination of two or more waves that results in a single wave Two kinds Constructive interference Destructive interference htm

Wave Interference Constructive interference Destructive interference Happens when the crests of one or more wave overlap the crests of another wave or waves The troughs also overlap End result is a new wave that has higher crests and deeper troughs than the original waves Happens when the crests of one wave and the troughs of another wave overlap. The new wave has smaller amplitude than the original waves had.

Wave Interference Standing Wave Resonance A pattern of vibration that simulates a wave standing still ash/visual_concepts/70363.htm A phenomenon that occurs when two objects naturally vibrate at the same frequency; the sound produced by one object causes the other object to vibrate ual_concepts/70366.htm