Wave Behaviour

SJAM
SPH3UI
A wave is the transfer of energy and
momentum through the vibration of a
medium.
Waves are characterized by their
WAVELENGTH, FREQUENCY,
AMPLITUDE, PHASE and SPEED.

speed waveleng
frequenc th
y
amplitude of
a wave is
related to
the energy of
the wave.

Big
amplitude
means more
energy

Amplitude =
Energy
When a wave
strikes a
barrier it will
be reflected
back at the
same angle it
struck the
barrier.

Waves Reflect
When a wave
strikes a
barrier it will
be reflected
back
according to
the geometry
of the wave
and barrier.

Waves Reflect
moves from a
more dense
medium (slow)
to a less dense
medium (fast)
the reflected
pulse has the
same
wavelength
and phase but
smaller
amplitude.

Waves Reflect
moves from a
less dense
medium (fast)
to a more
dense medium
(slow) the
reflected pulse
has the same
wavelength but
opposite phase
and smaller
amplitude.

Waves Reflect
When a wave changes speed the wavelength
will change and the wave will change direction.
The amount of REFRACTION is proportional to
the change in speed.

Waves Refract
passes through
an opening or
past a barrier it
will SPREAD
OUT. The
amount of
bending
depends on the
wavelength
and the size of
the opening.

Waves Diffract
Applet
When two waves meet the medium will ADD the
wave amplitudes together. This is called
SUPERPOSITION.
waves meet
they will
SUPERIMPOSE
and
INTERFERE.
The pattern
produced can
be analyzed
using
geometry.

Applet