Wave Properties

29.
Wave properties
Topic 4
Learning Objectives
 Interpret incident, reflected and refracted waves at boundaries
between media.
 Qualitatively describe diffraction through a single slit and around
objects.
 Sketch and interpret the superposition of pulses and waves.
Reflection
Reflection is an everyday phenomenon; you can see your reflection
in a mirror and the reflection of the blue sky in sea water makes the
water look blue.
What is the law of reflection?
The angle of incidence I (angle between ray and the normal to the
reflecting surface at the point of incidence) is equal to the angle of
reflection.
Note: the reflected and incident rays and the normal to the surface lie
on the same plane, called the plane of incidence.
Image in a plane mirror.
Where is the image of an object located in a plane mirror? What are
its properties?
Image in a plane mirror.
Properties of the image:
 Virtual (no light actual forms the image, hence cannot be formed
on a screen).
 Laterally inverted.
 Same distance behind the mirror as the object is in front.
 Same size.
Why can’t you see an image of yourself when you look at a piece of
A4 white paper?
An image due to reflection can occur only when the reflecting
surface is sufficiently smooth. This means that the wavelength on
the incident wave has to be larger than the size of any irregularities.
Note: the wavelength of the reflected waves is the same as that of
the incident wave.
Refraction of light in a glass block.
When light enters a denser medium, like glass, at a non-zero angle, it changes
direction due to the decrease in speed. We say the light has refracted.
Usually, when a ray of light strikes an interface between two media, there is both
reflection and refraction.
Why does light bend when it enters glass?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLmpNM0sgYk
Why does light travel slower in glass?
Why is light slower in glass? - Sixty Symbols (y

outube.com)
Refraction
 Refraction occurs when a wave meets a boundary, is transmitted, and

changes speed
 If the waves crosses the boundary at a non-zero angle you will see a change in
direction which is dependent on the wavelength of the incident wave and the
refractive index of the material the wave moves into
 If waves cross a boundary at an angle of incidence of zero degrees, they will
continue in the same direction
 Wavelength will decrease if the material the waves enters has a higher
refractive index. Frequency remains constant.
 Waves with a shorter wavelength will refract more.
The ripple tank is a useful device to observe wave
behaviour.
k on the link below to observe wave behaviour using a ripple tank.
http://www.falstad.com/ripple/
Diffraction
The spreading of a wave as it goes past an obstacle or through an
aperture is called diffraction.
What will the wavefronts look like after a series of plane waves
passes through an aperture?
Diffraction
How does the amount of diffraction depend on the size of the
wavelength compared to the size of the aperture?
Note: when waves pass through a large aperture (a) they change
shape and form flattened concentric waves centered on the aperture.
More info at: http://salfordacoustics.co.uk/sound-waves/diffraction

Diffraction
o Diffraction occurs when waves pass through a gap or around an object
and spread out.
o Diffraction is greatest with a gap of the same width as the wavelength of
the wave.
o The waves spread out more if the wavelength is greater or the gap is
narrower in general.
Diffraction
Significant diffraction takes place when a wave has wavelength
comparable to or larger than the size of an aperture or an obstacle.
In general, the larger the wavelength, the greater the effect.
Using your ideas about diffraction, can you explain why we can hear,
but not see, around corners?
A person talking I the next room can be heard through the open door
because sound diffracts around the opening of the door – the
wavelength of sound for speech is roughly the same as the door size.
On the other hand, light does not diffract around the door since its
wavelength is much smaller than the door size. Hence, we can hear
through the open door, even though we cannot see the speaker.
Radians and Phase Difference
The two waves shown below show a
phase difference equal to θ.
What do we mean by the term ´Phase Difference´?
This is a measure of how “in step”

different particles are. If moving
together they are in phase. is
measured either in degrees or
radians.
360o or 2π radians is one complete

cycle so 180o or π radians is
completely out of phase by half a
cycle.
A phase difference of 90o or

radians is a quarter of a cycle.
Radians and Phase Difference
Phase difference,
Click on icon to open the

simulation. phase.jar
The principle of superposition.
Imagine two waves moving through the same medium. What do you
think will happen to the medium as the two waves move through
the same medium at the same time?
Click on the
image.
The principle of superposition.
When two waves or more of the same type arrive at a given point in
space at the same time, the displacement of the medium at that
point is the vector sum of the individual displacements.
This statement is called the principle of superposition. By referring

to the animations below, explain what this statement means.
A wave's displacement is either positive or negative at a point in time
and space. If more than one wave is at that point in time and space
then a 'net effect' will be observed.
If two waves travel towards each other the waves will 'add together'
the amplitudes of vibration of the individual waves - they will
interfere with one another:
Reflection of pulses.
What happens when a pulse in a rope with one end fixed
approaches that fixed end?
At a fixed (hard) boundary, the

displacement remains zero and
the reflected wave changes its
polarity (undergoes a 180o phase
change)
As you can see the pulse has been reflected by the wall (fixed end) and
has been inverted. Can you explain why the wave experiences a phase
change of 180o?
Reflection from a HARD boundary.
The animation below shows a wave pulse on a string moving from
left to right towards the end which is rigidly clamped. As the wave
pulse approaches the fixed end, the internal restoring forces
which allow the wave to propagate exert an upward force on the
end of the string. But, since the end is clamped, it cannot move.
Reflection from a HARD boundary.
According to Newton's third law, the wall must be exerting an
equal downward force on the end of the string. This new force
creates a wave pulse that propagates from right to left, with the
same speed and amplitude as the incident wave, but with
opposite polarity (upside down).
At a fixed (hard) boundary, the displacement remains zero and the

reflected wave changes its polarity (undergoes a 180o phase change)
Reflection of a pulse from a free end.
What do you think would happen if the pulse was reflected a non-
fixed end?
Double-source interference
When two waves meet at the same point in space the principle of
superposition states that the resulting wave has a displacement that
is the sum of the individual displacements. The resulting pattern
when two or more waves meet is called interference. All waves show
interference.
INTERFERENCE PATTERNS OF
TWO POINT SOURCES - Two Sets
of Concentric Waves In A Ripple
Tank.
Constructive interference occurs
when crests meet crests or
troughs meet troughs, forming an
anti-nodal line. Destructive
interference occurs when crests
meet troughs,
Wave Interference
Wave Interference (colorado.edu)

Explain these two observations to a
partner.
Questions.
1. Blue light and red light are combined and enter a glass block
from air at the same point, which colour light refracts the most?
2. Sound waves of different wavelengths pass through a doorway, I

am stood behind the wall next to the door, which wavelength
sounds am I most likely to hear?
3. My house is behind a hill, there is a radio aerial on the far side

of the hill and at some times during the day my house is in
shade, but I can still listen to the radio, can you explain this
phenomenon?
Figure 4 is on the next slide.
For question 3 you might want to look at pages 64 and 65 from

your textbook to help with understanding what is an oscilloscope.

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29.

Why is light slower in glass? - Sixty Symbols (y

 Refraction occurs when a wave meets a boundary, is transmitted, and

k on the link below to observe wave behaviour using a ripple tank.

More info at: http://salfordacoustics.co.uk/sound-waves/diffraction

This is a measure of how “in step”

360o or 2π radians is one complete

A phase difference of 90o or

Click on icon to open the

This statement is called the principle of superposition. By referring

At a fixed (hard) boundary, the

At a fixed (hard) boundary, the displacement remains zero and the

Wave Interference (colorado.edu)

2. Sound waves of different wavelengths pass through a doorway, I

3. My house is behind a hill, there is a radio aerial on the far side

For question 3 you might want to look at pages 64 and 65 from

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