Wave Behavior Flashcard

Front

What property of waves causes the light to look like a rainbow as it exits a prism?

Back

Refraction

Front

What causes refraction?

Back

Change in speed of a wave.

Front

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

Back

Speed.

Front

What is the main difference between refraction and diffraction?

Back

Refraction involves the bending of light; diffraction involves the bending and spreading of light, usually around an obstacle.

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

Define refraction.

Back

The bending of light as it passes from one medium to another due to a change in speed.

Front

What is diffraction?

Back

The bending and spreading of waves around obstacles.

Front

What happens to the speed of light when it enters a denser medium?

Back

It decreases.

Front

What is the relationship between wavelength and frequency in wave behavior?

Back

As wavelength increases, frequency decreases, and vice versa.

Front

What is the principle of superposition in wave interference?

Back

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