Celtic Harp
  Irish folk tunes
arranged by
Howard Baer

Propagation of Waves
Key Terms
Reflection
Refraction
Absorption

Slide 3

Diffraction
  Diffraction is significant only when
 D £ l

Interference
Interference occurs whenever two waves occupy the same space at the same time.

Resultant Wave
The combined wave formed by the super-position of two indi-vidual waves

Constructive Interference
The two interfering waves reinforce one another
Occurs when the two waves are in phase

Constructive Interference

Destructive Interference

Destructive Interference
The two interfering waves cancel one another
Occurs when the two waves are out of phase

Video I-3
  Interference: Transverse Waves on a String.

Constructive Interference – Waves

Destructive Interference –
Waves

Constructive Interference
(unequal amplitudes)

Destructive Interference
(unequal amplitudes)

Sound From Two Sources

Sound From Two Sources
Constructive interference occurs when
L1 - L2 = n l

Sound From Two Sources
Destructive interference occurs when
L1 - L2 = (n+ ½)l

Video II-5
  Interference of Sound Waves

Beats
Occur when two waves of slightly different frequency interfere

Beats

Video II-6
Beats

Beat Frequency
fbeat = |f1 -f2|