WAVE BEHAVIOR

When a wave encounters

the boundary of the medium
in which it is traveling, it
sometimes reflects back into
the medium.
Incident Wave
- A wave pulse moving
from a large spring into
a smaller one that
strikes the boundary.
 Some of the energy of the
incident wave’s pulse is reflected
backward in the large spring.
This returning wave is called
reflected wave.
The displacement of a medium
caused by two or more waves is
the principle of superposition.
Wave Interference
Wave interference can
be either constructive or
destructive.
Destructive Interference
The superposition of
waves with equal but
opposite amplitude.
When the pulses meet and are
in the same location, the
displacement is zero. Point N,
which doesn’t move at all, is
called a node.
Constructive Interference
Occurs when the wave
displacement are in the
same direction.
A larger pulse appears at
point A when the two waves
meet. Point A has the largest
displacement and its called
the antinode.
Continuous Waves
 Is an electromagnetic
wave of constant
amplitude and frequency.
Standing Waves
 A vibration of a system in
which some particular points
remain fixed while others
between them vibrate with
the maximum amplitude.
The law of reflection
states that the angle of
incidence is equal to the
angle of reflection.
Refraction
The change in the direction of
waves at the boundary between
two different media.
The law of reflection states that
the incident ray,
the reflected ray, and the normal
to the surface of the mirror all lie
in the same plane.  
Diffraction
 Is the slight bending of
light as it passes around
the edge of an object.