12.2 Some Properties of Waves

12.2 Some Properties of Waves

• Waves, including sound and light, exhibit the same phenomena.
• These phenomena are described in detail in most basic physics texts.
• We will review them briefly.

• Part of the wave is reflected at the interface when it enters the medium.
• The reflection is diffuse if the surface is larger than the wavelength.
• Light is reflected from paper.

• The angle of reflection is the same as the angle of incidence, but the angle of the wave is different.
• The properties of the media and the angle of incidence affect the fraction of the energy transmitted from one medium to another.

• The density and velocity of the two media are subscripted.

• When the angle of incidence is oblique, the fraction of sound energy entering the water is even smaller.
• Water is a great barrier to sound.

• When two waves travel in the same medium at the same time, the total disturbance in the medium is at each point.
• If two waves are in phase, they add so that the wave disturbance at each point in space is increased.
• The wave disturbance in the propagating medium is reduced if two waves are out of phase.
• The wave disturbance is completely canceled if the wave magnitudes are 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609-

• A special type of interference is produced by two waves traveling in opposite directions.

• Standing sound waves are formed in hollow pipes.