Refraction of Waves

Refraction of Waves

Its all about the medium!

First review

• Wave characteristics

• Characteristics of Sound

• Absorption of Sound

• Reflection of Sound

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is not a characteristic of a transverse wave?

• trough

• wavelength

• rarefaction

• crest

Multiple Choice

What must all mechanical waves have in order to transfer energy?

• gravity

• medium

• wavelength

• compression

Multiple Select

What type of wave is a sound wave?

• transverse

• compressional

• electromagnetic

• longitudinal

Multiple Choice

What is the relationship between amplitude and wavelength?

• inverse

• direct

• none exists

• constant

Multiple Choice

What is the relationship between the pitch of a sound and the volume of the sound?

• direct

• inverse

• constant

• none exists

Multiple Select

Which of the following materials would most likely cause a sound to reflect?

• towels

• gym floor

• pillows

• brick wall

Multiple Select

Which of the following would most likely cause a sound to be absorbed?

• carpet

• garage floor

• foam

• rock wall

Poll

How comfortable do you feel with waves so far?

• I am totally lost.

• I get some of it, but not all of it

• I feel pretty good, I get a lot of questions right.

• I feel awesome, I want to do waves all year!

Recall that ALL waves can do the following

• reflect

• absorb

• refract

• diffract

Today we will focus on refraction of waves

Refraction of Waves

Waves are bent because they pass from one type of medium to another. When they change mediums they change their speed. Much like when you step off the sidewalk on to snow, you probably slow down. You changed mediums sidewalk to snow.

Refraction of Sound

Think about how things sound when they are in another room. Do they sound as clear as to when you are in the same room? No, because as the sound travels through walls, the waves bend causing a distortion of the sound waves.

Multiple Choice

Which medium does a sound wave travel FASTEST through?

• Liquid

• gas

• solid

• plasma

Multiple Choice

Which medium will the sound wave travel the SLOWEST through?

• air

• water

• metal

• fire

Multiple Choice

Why is temperature difference considered a different medium?

• The air particles move at different speed which causes the sound wave to change speeds.

• Temperature differences in mediums are not considered different mediums.

Multiple Choice

We do not say waves bend we say they

• absorb

• reflect

• refract

• diffract