Wave Action

Wave Action

Waves are generated by an energy source. This energy is then translated into a medium in Mechanical Waves and without a Medium in Electromagnetic Waves.

As a wave approaches a surface and hits it and it cannot pass through the wave is reflected. The angle of reflection is always equal to angle of incidence.

Refraction is where a wave travels from one density to another. In the picture to the right light travels from air (less dense) to water (more dense) and as a result the light is bent creating the refraction.

Waves that travel through the same density material then it hits an object or bends around it or goes through a hole in the object, and the bend spreads out is called Diffraction.

Wave Interference

There are two types of wave interferences constructive and destructive. Constructive Interference is where two waves match up crest to crest and trough to trough as a result the amplitude of the crest and trough grow larger. Destructive Interference is where two waves combine but they are not crest to crest but crest to trough they cancel each other out lower the wave amplitude to zero.

Antinodes and Nodes are points on a wave. Nodes are where the wave and the reflective wave cancel each other and produce and amplitude of zero. The Antinodes are produced when crests and troughs match on both the wave and the reflective wave producing greater energy.

Resonance is a wave energy that vibrates through an object when struck by another object. In the example to the left "B" strikes "A" and as a result the wave "C" vibrates through "A." The speed of vibration depends on the density of the medium the denser the medium the faster the wave.