Wave behavior

Wave behavior

1. Waves at boundaries

   • waves at boundaries: the pulse that strikes the boundary is called the incident wave. the returning wave is called the reflected wave. energy is reflected back with a rigid boundary.

2. superposition of waves

   • principle of superposition states that the displacement of a medium caused by two or more waves is the algebraic sum of the displacements caused by the individual waves. the result of the superposition of two or more waves is called interference.
     • node is point N that doesn't move at all. antinode is the largest displacement. standing wave is the wave that appears to be standing still.

3. waves in two dimensions

   • a wavefront is a line that represents the crest of a wave in two dimensions. show 2D waves of any shape. the direction can be represented by a ray. a ray is a line drawn at a right angle to the wavefront.
   • the orientation of a line is shown by a line called normal. the law of reflection states that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.

4. refraction

   • the change in the direction of waves at the boundary between two different mediums.