Wave BehaviorBY JON

The Physics of Waves

All waves follow the laws of physics no matter what type

Waves can be reflected, refracted, diffracted

Reflection

Reflection happens when a wave bounces off an obstacle.

Specular reflection: smooth surface Angle of incidence = angle of reflection

Diffuse reflection: rough surface Reflection in all directions because angle of incidence varies over the

surface due to its roughness

Law of Reflection

angle of incidence= angle of reflection

Reflection An echo - example

of a reflection  Radar uses this

principle to determine the size, characteristics of, and distance to an object 

Refraction

Occurs as waves move from one medium into another or within a medium, like air, that varies  in density or temperature

Waves bend toward the normal when they move from a less optically dense medium (faster) to a more optically dense medium (slower)

Waves bend away from the normal when the opposite is true

Refraction

θ1

θ2

DispersionThe index of refraction of real materials actually depends on the

frequency of the light being bent.

Dispersion is the explanation for rainbows:

Each color has its own frequency

Each gets slowed down differently

Each comes out at a different angle

Waves can be classified into three types:Mechanical wavesElectromagnetic wavesMatter waves

Mechanical waves

Mechanical Waves act as the propagation of a disturbance through a material medium due to the repeated periodic motion of the particles of the medium about their mean positions, the disturbance being handed over from one particle to the next.

 Examples: vibration of string, vibration of string, the surface wave produced on the surface of solid and liquid, sound waves, tsunami waves, earthquake P-waves, ultra sounds, vibrations in gas, and oscillations in spring, internal water waves, and waves in slink etc.

Electromagnetic waves

The existence of medium is not essential for propagation. The Periodic changes takes place in electric and magnetic fields hence it is called Electromagnetic Wave.

Properties:In vacuum E.M waves travel with light velocity.

E.M waves can be polarized.

E.M waves are transverse in nature.

Medium is not required for propagating the E.M waves.

E.M waves have momentum.

Example : Radio waves, light waves, thermal radiation, X ray etc.

Matter waves

These are also called De Broglie waves. They show or depict the wave nature or wave like nature of all matter, everything that makes up our body, the atoms etc.

wavelength of matter waves is very small. 

 The frequency of these waves is directly depends on their kinetic energy.

Question?

Which of the three waves deals with tsunami waves?

a) Mechanical waves

b) Electromagnetic waves

c) Matter waves

Which wave property deals with echoing?

a) reflected

b) refracted

c) diffracted

Question?

These are also called De Broglie waves

a) Mechanical waves

b) Electromagnetic waves

c) Matter waves

is the explanation for rainbows

a) reflected

b) refracted

c) diffracted

Question?

Radio waves and light waves are an example of?

a) Mechanical waves

b) Electromagnetic waves

c) Matter waves