Wave Behavior Flashcard

Front

What best defines interference?

Back

The overlapping of waves.

Front

When a wave passes from one medium to another, what may change?

Back

Speed.

Front

According to the Law of reflection, what happens to a light ray striking a mirror?

Back

It bounces off the mirror at the same angle it hits.

Front

What best defines diffraction?

Back

The spreading of a wave around an obstacle.

Front

What is a medium?

Back

The substance through which a wave can travel.

Front

What is the speed of a wave?

Back

The distance a wave travels per unit of time.

Front

What is wavelength?

Back

The distance from any point on a wave to an identical point on the next wave.

Front

What is frequency?

Back

The number of waves that pass a point in one second.

Front

What is the principle of superposition?

Back

When two or more waves overlap, the resulting wave is the sum of the individual waves.

Front

What is constructive interference?

Back

When two waves meet in phase and combine to make a larger amplitude wave.