Wave+Interactions

=Wave Interactions=

Waves carry oscillations, or disturbances, from one place to another. A water wave is a familiar example, but other types of waves like radio waves are invisible. Other examples of waves are light and sound waves. Wave interactions describe what happens when waves hit other objects.

Reflection


Reflection is what happens when a wave bounces off, or is reflected, by an obstacle. The law of reflection says that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection. In other words, a wave will bounce off at the same angle that it hits the object at.

Examples of reflection are:
 * Mirrors. Light waves are being reflected.
 * Echoes. Sound waves are being reflected.
 * Surface waves. Water waves are being reflected.

Refraction
Refraction occurs when the wave passes through an obstacle. When waves cross boundaries, they are bent. This is because waves travel at different speeds in different materials.

Examples of refraction are:
 * Eyeglasses lenses help you see because they refract light waves.
 * A spoon in a glass of water appears to be bent because light rays are refracted.
 * A fish underwater appears to be in a different location than it really is because light rays are refracted.


 * Sources**
 * 1) CPO Integrated Physics and Chemistry textbook.
 * 2) http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/reflec2.html