Wave Interactions

Front

What is refraction?

Back

Refraction is the bending of a wave as it changes speed when moving from one medium to another.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

Front

What is reflection?

Back

Reflection is the bouncing back of a wave when it hits a surface that does not absorb the wave's energy.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

Front

What is diffraction?

Back

Diffraction is the spreading out of waves when they pass through a narrow opening or around obstacles.

Front

What is interference?

Back

Interference occurs when two or more waves meet and combine to form a new wave pattern, resulting in either a larger or smaller amplitude.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-5

Front

What happens to light when it passes from air into water?

Back

Light bends towards the normal line, which is an example of refraction.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

Front

What is the normal line in wave interactions?

Back

The normal line is an imaginary line perpendicular to the surface at the point of incidence where the wave strikes.

Front

What is the principle of superposition in wave interference?

Back

The principle of superposition states that when two or more waves overlap, the resulting wave displacement is the sum of the individual displacements.

Front

What is constructive interference?

Back

Constructive interference occurs when two waves meet in phase, resulting in a wave with a larger amplitude.

Front

What is destructive interference?

Back

Destructive interference occurs when two waves meet out of phase, resulting in a wave with a smaller amplitude or cancellation.

Front

What is the difference between transverse and longitudinal waves?

Back

Transverse waves oscillate perpendicular to the direction of wave travel, while longitudinal waves oscillate parallel to the direction of wave travel.