Wave Interactions

•Happens when a wave bounces on an object in its path, and changes direction.

All waves can be reflected.

•When a sound wave bounces off a surface we speak of “echo”.

•The reflected waves are identical to the incoming waves

Not all waves are always reflected.

Some materials are able to trap

Waves, particularly light

waves.

Depending on the wavelengths that are trapped, we will be able to se the complementary color

•White light is the combination of many individual light wavelengths.

•The color we see is the light that bounces off an object.

•The object absorbs allother light wavelengths.

Waves pass through a substance or material which can be:      

•Transparent– visible light is transmitted easily and objects are seen clearly.

•Translucent– some visible light is transmitted, but some is scattered, (diffused or bent in many directions), so that objects are not clearly seen

Is the change in direction of a wave when it changes its speed as it travels from one medium into another.

Waves bend when they pass around an edge or through a narrow opening.

Different wavelengths bend at different angles.

Short wavelengths are bent more than long ones.

Happens when two waves overlap or cross paths.

The interaction can be:

Constructive: amplitude increases.

The wave grows

Destructive: amplitude decreases.

Waves cancel out, even disappear.

Vibration produced in one object that is caused by the transmission through a MEDIUM of the vibration produced in another