Wave Behaviors & Interactions

Front

What happens when two waves meet on the same medium?

Back

They travel through one another.

Front

What is the term for when a wave moves around a barrier or through an opening?

Back

Diffraction.

Front

What type of interference occurs when two waves combine to form a wave with a larger amplitude?

Back

Constructive interference.

Front

What wave interaction is represented when a wave bends as it passes from one medium to another?

Back

Refraction.

Front

What is the result of two wave pulses with equal positive amplitudes meeting at the same point?

Back

It is constructive interference with twice the amplitude.

Front

What is the term for the bouncing back of a wave when it hits a barrier?

Back

Reflection.

Front

What is the difference between constructive and destructive interference?

Back

Constructive interference results in a larger amplitude, while destructive interference results in a smaller amplitude or cancellation.

Front

What is the definition of a wave?

Back

A wave is a disturbance that transfers energy through space or matter.

Front

What is the principle of superposition in wave interactions?

Back

The principle of superposition states that when two or more waves overlap, the resulting wave displacement is the sum of the individual displacements.

Front

What is the term for the change in direction of a wave as it passes from one medium to another?

Back

Refraction.