Wave Interactions

Question 1

What is a boundary

Answer 1

Where the surface of one medium meets the surface of a different medium

Question 2

What happens when a wave is reflected

Answer 2

half wavelength change of phase

Question 3

When a wave meets a boundary what can happen

Answer 3

Reflect, Transmit, Be absorbed

Question 4

What happens when a wave meets a fixed point

Answer 4

a 180 degree phase change occurs to the wave due to NL3

Question 5

What happens when a wave meets a free to move point

Answer 5

no change in phase and just rebounds

Question 6

What is constructive interference

Answer 6

When two pulses add due to same phase

Question 7

What is destructive interference

Answer 7

When two pulses cancel out due to opposite phase

Question 8

What is a beat

Answer 8

when two waves are only slightly out of phase and thus will alternate between constructive and destructive interference

Question 9

What is a wavefront

Answer 9

a line connecting two points in phase