1. Oscillations and Waves
Wave Properties

2. Reflection and Refraction
Terminology (define these in your own words)
Incident ray
Reflected ray
Refracted ray
Normal line
Angle of incidence / reflection / refraction
Interface or boundary
Law of reflection
angle of incidence = angle of reflection

3. Refraction
This is caused by a change in speed as a wave passes form one medium into another. It results in…
- change in direction
- change in wavelength ( as v = fλ )
When there is refraction of a wave such as light, part of the wave is also reflected. This results in a decrease in intensity of the transmitted (refracted) wave.

4. Refractive index
The degree of refraction of light at a boundary is measured by the refractive index, n. The greater the reduction in speed of the light, the greater the refractive index:
Experiment: Investigate the relationship between the angle of incidence and angle of refraction for light.
nm = absolute refractive index of a medium, m (no unit)
c = speed of light in a vacuum
vm = speed of light in medium
nm = c vm

5. i r
Snell’s Law
It can be shown that the relative refractive index of two materials is given by the formula…
Material 1
Material 2
Snell’s law was originally shown by Ibn Sahl, arabian scientist of the golden age.
Where light travels from material 1 into material 2. Here…
i = angle of incidence
r = angle of refraction
1n2 = sin i
sin r

6. In the data booklet the angles of incidence and refraction are called θ1 and θ2.
It can further be shown that…
Note that this is written in the data booklet as…
1n2 = sinθ1 = v1 = n2
sinθ v n1
sinθ2 = v2 = n1
sinθ v n2

7. E.g. 1
A wave travelling at 12cms-1 is incident upon a surface at an angle of 55° from the normal.
If the angle of refraction is 40°, determine the speed of the wave in the second medium.
If the initial wavelength is 6cm determine the frequency of the wave in the second medium.
sinθ2 = v2
sinθ v1
sin = v2
sin
v2 = 9.4 cms-1
In first medium: v = fλ f = v/λ = 0.12 / = 2.0 Hz
Frequency does not change during refraction  f = 2.0 Hz

8. E.g. 2
For light travelling from water into glass, r=20°.
If nw = 1.33 and ng = 1.50, determine i (θ1).
sinθ2 = n1
sinθ n2
sin20 = 1.33
sinθ
sinθ1 = / 0.89
= 0.38
θ1 = sin
= 22.5°

10. Phase and Wavefronts
If two oscillating bodies are in phase, this means that they reach their maximum displacement at the same time. E.g. any two wave crests are in phase.
E.g. During refraction of a water wave:
(Youtube link)
A wavefront is a line joining adjacent points that are in phase.

11. Diffraction
When a wave passes through a gap or edge of a barrier they spread out. This effect is called diffraction. (You tube link)

14. Superposition (interference)
Whenever two waves of the same type meet at the same point, the total amplitude (displacement) at that point equals the sum of the amplitudes (displacements) of the individual waves.
(You tube link1 and link2)

15. For constructive interference at any point, wavefronts must be ‘in phase’ and their path difference must be a whole number of wavelengths:
path difference = nλ
For destructive interference at any point, wavefronts are ‘π out of phase’ and their path difference is given by:
path difference = (n + ½) λ

16. Task: On your interference diagram…
Draw in lines of constructive and destructive interference
Indicate the lines that join points…
a. in phase
b. 2π out of phase (path difference = λ)
c. 4π out of phase (path difference = 2λ)
d. 3π out of phase (path difference = 1.5λ)

17. Coherent waves
A stable pattern of interference is only obtained if the two wave sources are coherent.
Two coherent wave sources…
i. have a constant phase difference,
ii. thus produce waves with equal frequency.

19. Superposition links
- PheT Sound (see jar file)
Superposition of two pulses
With editable wave equations
Creating a standing wave

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