Wave properties, Diffraction and Refraction Flashcards
What are the three things all waves can do?
Reflected, Refracted and Diffracted.
What allows us to see light?
Reflection of light
When does light reflects at different angles?
When it reflects off an uneven surface.
When does light reflect at the same angle and you get a clear reflection?
When it reflects off an even surface.
What is the law of reflection that applies to every reflected ray?
Angle of incidence = Angle of reflection
What does it mean when waves are diffracted?
The waves bend round obstacles, causing the waves to spread out.
A much wider gap than wavelength causes…
Little diffraction
A gap the same as wavelength causes…
Maximum diffraction
What does it mean when waves are refracted?
Waves go through a new material but change direction.
Waves are only refracted if they meet a new medium…
at an angle.
Why does a wave change speed when it passes through a glass window?
because the glass window is more dense.
