15.5 - Wave Behaviour (learn diagrams!!)

types of wave behaviour (4)

reflection, refraction, interference and diffraction

transverse waves can also undergo..

polarisation

reflection

the bouncing of waves off of an obstacle in their path is called reflection of waves

refraction

the changing of direction of a wave when it enters a region where its speed changes

diffraction

the sideways spreading of waves into the region beyond a gap or around an obstacle

principle of superposition of waves

when waves form 2 sources meet, a new wave is produced. the displacement produced at any point by this wave is the algebraic sum of the displacements that each wave would produce on its own

constructive interference

occurs when waves from 2 sources meet and the amplitude of the resulting wave is greater than the amplitudes of each of the individual waves

destructive interference

occurs when waves from 2 sources meet and the amplitude of the resulting wave is less than the amplitude of each of the individual waves

coherent

two sources of periodic waves are said to be coherent if they are in phase, or if there is a constant phase difference between waves from each of the sources. the sources must have the same frequency

interference pattern

when waves from 2 or more coherent sources meet, the is the resulting wave pattern

polarised

if the vibrations of a transverse wave are confined to one plane only, that wave is said to be polarised

waves of all types undergo..

interference

plane of polarisation

the plane in which a transverse wave is vibrating

what are the only waves that can be polarised

transverse waves