Wave effects

6.02

What can be used to study waves?

A ripple tank

What is reflection?

A vertical surface is put in the path of the waves. The waves are reflected from the surface at the same angle as they strike it.

What is refraction?

A flat piece of plastic makes the water more shallow, which slows the waves down. When waves slow, they change direction.

What is the wave equation?

Speed = frequency x wavelength

Speed = distance per second - m/s

Frequency = number of oscillations per second - Hz

Wavelength = distance between wavefronts - m

What is speed? (check)

Distance per second - m/s

What is frequency? (check)

Number of oscillations per second - Hz

What is wavelength?

Distance between wavefronts - m

Explain refraction:

The waves keep oscillating up and down at the same rate (frequency), so when they slow, the wavefronts close up on each other. That follows the wave equation (s = f · w).

What is diffraction?

The waves bend round the sides of an obstacle, or spread out as they pass through a gap.

How can diffraction be significant?

If the size of the gap is about the same as the wavelength. Wider gaps produce less diffraction.