Lesson 8b –

Wave Behaviour
Will focus on light, mostly
Reflection
Reflection
normal
Reflection
normal
Reflection
normal
 Reflection
normal
Angle of
incidence
 Reflection
normal
Angle of
incidence
 Reflection
Angle of incidence = Angle of reflection
Normal

Incident ray Reflected ray

Angle of Angle of
incidence reflection

Mirror
The mug trick!
The mug trick!
Why does
this
happen?
Marching soldiers!
Light waves

Light slows down as

it goes from air to
glass/water
 Ripple tank
• Ripple Tank Simulation
 Snell’s law
There is a relationship between the speed of
the wave in the two media and the angles of
incidence and refraction

Ray, NOT
wavefronts θ1

θ2
 Snell’s law
speed in substance 1 sinθ1
speed in substance 2
= sinθ
2
 Snell’s law
In the case of light only, we usually define a quantity called the
index of refraction for a given medium as
nm = c = sinθ1/sinθ2
cm
c
where c is the speed of
vacuum
light in a vacuum and cm
is the speed of light in the
medium
cm
 Snell’s law
Thus for two different media

sinθ1/sinθ2 = v1/v2 = n2/n1

 OR!
Thus for two different media

sinθ1/sinθ2 = v1/v2 = n2/n1

 Refraction – a few notes
The wavelength changes, the speed
changes, but the frequency stays the same
 Refraction – a few notes
When the wave enters at 90°, no change of
direction takes place.
Critical angle
i
i
i
 Critical Angle
• http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/bend
ing-light

Critical angle
(when angle of
refraction is
90º)
 Critical angle (C)
sinθ1/sinθ2 = n2/n1

At critical angle (C), θ2 = 90, sinθ2 = 1

sinC = n2/n1 = 1/n1 if into air/vacuum

Right-angled prisms
Right-angled prism?

?
Right-angled prisms
Bigger than
Critical angle
Examples of Total Internal Reflection
Examples of Total Internal Reflection
Examples of Total Internal Reflection
Examples of Total Internal Reflection
Examples of Total Internal Reflection
 Diffraction
Waves spread as they pass an obstacle or
through an opening
 Diffraction
Diffraction is most when the opening or
obstacle is similar in size to the wavelength
of the wave
 Diffraction
• Ripple Tank Simulation
Diffraction
That’s why we can
hear people around a
wall but not see
them!
Diffraction of radio waves
 Diffraction patterns

b
Diffraction patterns
Superposition
 Principle of superposition
When two or more waves meet, the
resultant displacement is the sum of the
individual displacements
 Constructive and destructive
interference
When two waves of the same frequency
superimpose, we can get constructive interference
or destructive interference.

+ = + =
 Superposition
In general, the displacements of two (or
more) waves can be added to produce a
resultant wave. (Note, displacements can be
negative)
 Path difference
Whether there is constructive or destructive
interference observed at a particular point
depends on the path difference of the two
waves