Chapter 20 – The Energy of Waves Section 3 – Wave Interactions pp. 584 - 589
TERMS TO LEARN Reflection: the bouncing back of a wave after it hits a barrier Refraction: the bending of a wave as it passes at an angle from one medium to another. The speed of a wave changes depending on the medium in which it is traveling
TERMS TO LEARN Diffraction: the bending of waves around a barrier or through an opening Interference: a wave interaction that occurs when two or more waves overlap
INTERFERENCE Interference can either be constructive or destructive. Constructive interference increases amplitude; destructive interference decreases amplitude.
INTERFERENCE Interference can create standing waves. A standing wave is a wave that forms a stationary pattern in which parts of the wave are at rest position because of total destructive interference and parts of the wave have large amplitude due to constructive inference.