Physical Science Waves and Wave Interactions Flip Fall 2013

Waves and Wave Interactions
Chapter 14 - 15
Physical Science
Waves
• A wave is a disturbance that carries energy

through matter or space.
• Medium – the environment that the wave
travels in (ex: water, air)
Waves Transfer Energy
• Waves will spread out in all directions carrying

energy.
• The energy is conserved in the system following

both the law of conservation of momentum and
energy.
Waves transfer Energy
• EX: Water waves do work on a boat

• EX: Sound waves do work on your
eardrum
• EX: Light waves do work on your eye
Energy of Waves
Wave Speed
• The speed of a wave will depend on the
medium it travels through
• The state of matter determines the speed
of the wave.
– EX: In gases the particles are spread out so
the wave travels slower in gases
– EX: In liquids, the particles are closer together
so the energy is transferred quicker between
particles of that medium
– EX: In solids, the particles are tightly packed
together so the wave travels very quickly
through solids
Parts of a Wave
Doppler Effect –
Occurs when the wave source is moving.
http://www.physicslessons.com/phe/doppler
eff.htm
• Image Simulation
• Breaking the sound barrier

Light Waves
• Light waves occur in different frequencies and
wavelengths
• Light waves are represented on the
electromagnetic spectrum
• The Electromagnetic Spectrum consists of
visible light and other waves that cannot be
seen.
Electromagnetic Spectrum
Electromagnetic Spectrum
The Electromagnetic Spectrum
• Consists of light at all possible energies,

frequencies, and wavelengths.
• Visible light is only a small part of the
spectrum.
• The spectrum also contains X-rays,
Ultraviolet rays, Radio Waves, Gamma
waves.
The Nature of Light
• Light acts as a wave in that it:
– produces interference patterns like water waves
– Follows the laws of reflection, diffraction, and refraction
The Nature of Light
• Light also acts as a particle

– These particles are called PHOTONS
– A beam of light is considered to be a stream
of photons.
– Photons do not have mass…they are like
“bundles of energy”
Light Wave Speed
• All electromagnetic waves in empty space

travel at the same speed
• The speed of light is: 3.00 x 108 m/s or
186,000 miles/second
• Light will travel slower when it has to pass

through a medium such as air or water
Wave Interference
Wave Interference
• The combination of two or more waves of

the same frequency that result in a single
wave
• Two types:
– Constructive Interference
– Destructive Interference
Constructive Interference
• Occurs when two waves meet and produce a

larger wave.
Destructive Interference
• Occurs when two waves meet and make a
smaller wave or cancel each other out.
Wave Interference
• Interference of Light Waves produce

colorful displays
• Ex: Soap bubbles often show reds, blues,
and yellows on their surface because of
the interference of light.
Wave Interference Simulation
Wave Interactions
Wave Interactions
• Waves may interact with each other when

traveling through a medium
• There are 3 possible outcomes:
– Reflection, Diffraction, and Refraction
1. Diffraction
• A change in the direction of a wave when the

wave finds an obstacle or an edge
2. Reflection
• The bouncing back of a wave when the wave hits a

surface or boundary
Reflection of light
• Every object reflects some light

• Rough surfaces reflect light in many
directions
• Smooth surfaces reflect light in one
direction
Law of Reflection
• When light hits a

smooth surface, the
angle of incidence
equals the angle of
reflection.
3. Refraction
• The bending of waves
when they pass from
one medium to another
• Causes the wave to
bend
• Prism Example:
• http://
www.physicslessons.co
m/exp33.htm
Laws of Refraction
• When light travels in a medium with a higher
speed to a medium where it slows down, the ray
is bent toward the normal
Laws of Refraction
• When light travels from a medium where it is
slower to a medium where it can travel faster,
light bends away from the normal
Refraction
• Because of refraction
images appear to be
in different positions
Wave Absorption
• Energy from the

wave is absorbed
into the medium
• Often as heat
(measured as
thermal energy).
Thermal Energy
• Thermal conductors have a high rate of

energy transfer
• Thermal insulators have a slow rate of
thermal energy transfer
• Rate of thermal energy transfer is dependent

on temperature, color, texture and exposed
surface area of the object.
Thermal Equilibrium
• The amount of thermal energy absorbed is

equal to the amount of thermal energy
emitted.
• The temperature remains constant.

Physical Science Waves and Wave Interactions Flip Fall 2013

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Waves and Wave Interactions

• A wave is a disturbance that carries energy

• Waves will spread out in all directions carrying

• The energy is conserved in the system following

• EX: Water waves do work on a boat

• Breaking the sound barrier

• Consists of light at all possible energies,

• Light also acts as a particle

• All electromagnetic waves in empty space

• Light will travel slower when it has to pass

• The combination of two or more waves of

• Occurs when two waves meet and produce a

• Interference of Light Waves produce

• Waves may interact with each other when

• A change in the direction of a wave when the

• The bouncing back of a wave when the wave hits a

• Every object reflects some light

• When light hits a

• Energy from the

• Thermal conductors have a high rate of

• Rate of thermal energy transfer is dependent

• The amount of thermal energy absorbed is

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