1. Interactions of Waves Notes

2. The four basic wave interactions are reflection, refraction, diffraction, and interference.

3. 1.Reflection Reflection is the bouncing back of a wave after it strikes a boundary that does not absorb all the wave’s energy

4. *The law of reflection states that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.

5. 2. Refraction Refraction is the bending of waves due to a change in speed

6. *occurs because waves move at different speeds in different mediums *the bigger the change in speed the more the wave will bend

8. Click on the Fish to watch a Refraction Video Clip

9. 3. Diffraction Diffraction is the bending of waves around the edge of an obstacle

10. Watch a BrainPop on Refraction & Diffraction

11. 4. Interference Interference is when two or more waves arrive at the same place at the same time

12. *Waves can combine in two different ways. A. Constructive Interference - waves combine to make a wave with a larger amplitude. After the waves pass through each other, they continue on as if they had never met

13. B. Destructive Interference – waves combine to make a wave with a smaller amplitude