Wave interactions. Describing waves A crest represents all the high points in a wave. A trough is all the low points in the wave.

Wave interactionsWave interactions

Describing wavesDescribing wavesA crest represents all the high points in a wave.

A trough is all the low points in the wave.

The crest of a wave is sometimes called a wavefront.

In these figures, wavefronts are shown in dark blue.

Waves propagate in a direction perpendicular to their wavefronts.

Representing wavesRepresenting waves

Animated illustration, page 418

PropagationPropagationTo propagate is to spread out and grow.

Waves propagate outwards from their source, carrying both energy and information.

How do waves propagate?

Waves propagate because of connections between the particles in the wave medium.

A disturbance in one place causes a disturbance in the adjacent matter, such as in this water wave below.

How do waves propagate?How do waves propagate?

ReflectionReflectionReflection occurs for both

longitudinal and transverse waves.

Reflection causes a wave to change direction, and may also change its shape.

Reflection occurs at boundaries where conditions change—such as the edge of a pool or a wall in a room.

The kind of reflection that occurs depends on whether the boundary is fixed or open.

BoundariesBoundaries

A fixed boundary does NOT move in response to a wave.

The wave pulse reflects on the opposite side of the spring.

Fixed boundariesFixed boundaries

Open boundariesOpen boundariesAn open boundary allows the end of the spring to move freely.

The wave reflects on the same side of the spring as the incident wave.

Curved boundaries alter both the shape and direction of a wavefront.

Curved boundariesCurved boundaries

•They can turn plane waves into circular waves that converge at a point.

•They can also change the curvature of a circular wave.

Refraction occurs when a wave changes speed at a boundary, resulting in a change of direction.

Water waves refract if the depth changes.

They refract because they move slower in shallow water than in deep water.

RefractionRefraction

Waves move fast in deep water.

A-B moves slower in

shallow water.

A-C moves slower in

shallow water.

Refraction of a water waveRefraction of a water wave

Shallow (slow)

Refraction changes the direction of a wave.

Refraction and directionRefraction and direction

Refraction also changes the wavelength of a wave.

Notice: as the wave slows down, its wavelength gets shorter.

Refraction and wavelengthRefraction and wavelength

Recall:

When wave velocity changes during refraction, the wavelength also changes.

But frequency CAN’T change:

Refraction and frequencyRefraction and frequency

Every wave that enters the boundary must exit the boundary. Therefore, the number of waves per second must stay constant.

Refraction occurs for both transverse and longitudinal waves.

•Light waves are transverse waves. Light refracts when it changes speed passing from air to water.

•Sound waves are longitudinal waves. Sound refracts when it changes speed passing from cool air into warm air.

All waves refractAll waves refract

Diffraction often changes the direction and shape of a wave.

DiffractionDiffractionDiffraction is a property of waves that allows them to bend around obstacles and pass through gaps.

DiffractionDiffractionLonger wavelengths = more bending.

When the wavelength is large compared to the gap, the waves diffract in complete arcs.

When the wavelength is small relative to the gap, there is less diffraction and a larger “shadow zone”.

you are here

You are around the corner from a lamp and a speaker.

Sound and light are both waves, and both can diffract.

You can hear the speaker but not see the lamp. Why?

A paradoxA paradox

DiffractionDiffractionLonger wavelengths = more bending.

•Sound waves diffract around corners because sound waves have long wavelengths of centimeters to meters.

•Light waves also diffract, but their wavelength is much smaller (~10-5 cm), so the diffraction is imperceptibly small. Light casts sharp shadows.

InterferenceInterference

Examine this picture of the ocean.

Notice that there are ripples on top of the waves. These ripples are actually smaller waves that are combining with larger waves.

Waves of different amplitudes, wavelengths, and frequencies are often present at the same time.

Multiple wavesMultiple waves

The simplest wave can be described by a single amplitude, wavelength, and frequency.

These are referred to as sine waves.

Sine waves Sine waves

Sine waves Sine waves The simplest wave can be described by a single amplitude, wavelength, and frequency.

These are referred to as sine waves.

Graphs of amplitude vs. position and amplitude vs. time can be modeled using the sine function.

Sine waves Sine waves The sine function repeats every cycle, or every 2π radians.

The sine function repeats every cycle, or every 2π radians.

What happens when two or more of these simple waves combine with each other?

Sine waves Sine waves

The superposition principle says that the total amplitude at any point equals the sum of the amplitudes of all of the waves that occur at that same place and time.

Superposition principleSuperposition principle

When more than one wave is present, they can sum to make a larger or smaller amplitude wave.

If the result is a larger amplitude wave, constructive interference has occurred.

Constructive interferenceConstructive interference

Destructive interferenceDestructive interferenceTwo waves can also add up to make a smaller wave.

When two or more waves add up to make a smaller amplitude wave, destructive interference has occurred.

If the amplitudes are exactly matched, there can be total destructive interference.

Interference and superpositionInterference and superpositionIn most real situations, many waves will be present.

Some will interfere constructively; others will interfere destructively.

The interference is often temporary, lasting only until the waves pass by each other.

Temporary interferenceTemporary interferenceTwo opposite pulses start at opposite ends of this spring.

Temporary interferenceTemporary interference

When they meet in the middle, they cancel.

Two opposite pulses start at opposite ends of this spring.

They re-appear after passing through each other.

When they meet in the middle, they cancel.

Temporary interferenceTemporary interferenceTwo opposite pulses start at opposite ends of this spring.

Resonance and standing wavesResonance and standing waves

Standing waves occur when a wave and its reflection interfere constructively. To make a standing wave, continuously launch wave pulses by shaking one end of a spring.

If the rhythm is just right, each new pulse adds constructively to the reflection of the previous pulse.

Standing wavesStanding waves

A node is a stationary point where the amplitude stays zero.

Nodes and antinodesNodes and antinodes

Nodes and antinodesNodes and antinodes

An antinode is a point of maximum amplitude.

Standing waves are a form of resonance. Resonance occurs when the size of a system matches some multiple of the wavelength.

Standing waves and resonanceStanding waves and resonance

This standing wave has a wavelength equal to the size (length) of the system.

At different frequencies, different standing wave patterns appear on a vibrating string.

The fundamental is also called the first harmonic.

Natural frequenciesNatural frequencies

The lowest frequency and longest wavelength wave is the fundamental.

At different frequencies, different standing wave patterns appear on a vibrating string.

Natural frequenciesNatural frequencies

The next higher frequency wave is the second harmonic,at twice the frequency of the fundamental.

The lowest frequency and longest wavelength wave is the fundamental.

Natural frequenciesNatural frequencies

Each harmonic is a vibrating mode of the string.

A mode is a characteristic pattern of vibration that occurs at a resonant frequency of the system.

The natural frequencies of a system are the frequencies of its resonant modes.

The third harmonic has three times the frequency of the fundamental, and so on.

Homework / ClassworkHomework / Classwork

P 433• 15.2 #6-12 • 15.3 #13-20