![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() These equations are based upon the speeds of the wave in the two media and the angles at which the wave approaches and departs from the boundary. The amount of bending is a measurable behavior that follows distinct mathematical equations. Second, the amount of bending is dependent upon the actual speeds of the two media on each side of the boundary. A wave will bend one way when it passes from a medium in which it travels slowly into a medium in which it travels fast and if moving from a fast medium to a slow medium, the wavefront will bend in the opposite direction. First, the direction of "bending" is dependent upon the relative speed of the two media. That is, when a wavefront crosses the boundary between two media, the direction that the wavefront is moving undergoes a sudden change the path is "bent." This behavior of wave refraction can be described by both conceptual and mathematical principles. For now, it is enough to say that the reflective behavior of light provides evidence for the wavelike nature of light.Īll waves are known to undergo refraction when they pass from one medium to another medium. The reflection of light waves will be discussed in more detail in Unit 13 of The Physics Classroom. Light, like any wave, follows the law of reflection when bouncing off surfaces. This characteristic is observed for water waves and sound waves. One characteristic of wave reflection is that the angle at which the wave approaches a flat reflecting surface is equal to the angle at which the wave leaves the surface. The reflection of light waves off of a mirrored surface results in the formation of an image. Most people are very accustomed to the fact that light waves also undergo reflection. Now we will see how light waves demonstrate their wave nature by reflection, refraction and diffraction.Īll waves are known to undergo reflection or the bouncing off of an obstacle. In Unit 11 of The Physics Classroom Tutorial, the reflection, refraction, and diffraction of sound waves was discussed. The reflection, refraction, and diffraction of waves were first introduced in Unit 10 of The Physics Classroom Tutorial. Each one of these behaviors - reflection, refraction and diffraction - is characterized by specific conceptual principles and mathematical equations. If the boundary is merely an obstacle implanted within the medium, and if the dimensions of the obstacle are smaller than the wavelength of the wave, then there will be very noticeable diffraction of the wave around the object. The transmitted wave undergoes refraction (or bending) if it approaches the boundary at an angle. Specifically, there will be some reflection off the boundary and some transmission into the new medium. Rather, a wave will undergo certain behaviors when it encounters the end of the medium. On this page, we will focus on three specific behaviors - reflection, refraction and diffraction.Ī wave doesn't just stop when it reaches the end of the medium. In Lesson 1, we will investigate the variety of behaviors, properties and characteristics of light that seem to support the wave model of light. Since light behaves like a wave, one would have good reason to believe that it might be a wave. Light behaves in a way that is consistent with our conceptual and mathematical understanding of waves. And light exhibits the Doppler effect just as any wave would exhibit the Doppler effect. Light undergoes interference in the same manner that any wave would interfere. Light diffracts in the same manner that any wave would diffract. Light refracts in the same manner that any wave would refract. Light reflects in the same manner that any wave would reflect. Light exhibits certain behaviors that are characteristic of any wave and would be difficult to explain with a purely particle-view. In this unit of The Physics Classroom Tutorial, the focus will be on the wavelike nature of light. The fact is that light exhibits behaviors that are characteristic of both waves and particles. An age-old debate that has persisted among scientists is related to the question, "Is light a wave or a stream of particles?" Very noteworthy and distinguished physicists have taken up each side of the argument, providing a wealth of evidence for each side. ![]()
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