Here is the completed chart for Wave Interactions. You can use these descriptions, examples, and drawing ideas to fill in your worksheet.
1. Reflection
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Description: When a wave hits a surface it cannot pass through, it bounces back.
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Examples: An echo (sound bouncing off a wall), seeing your face in a mirror (light bouncing off glass).
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Draw It: Draw a straight line (wave) hitting a vertical line (wall) and bouncing back at an angle. Like a ball bouncing off a wall.
2. Refraction
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Description: The bending of a wave as it passes from one material into another because its speed changes.
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Examples: A straw looking broken or bent in a glass of water, eyeglasses focusing light.
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Draw It: Draw a line entering a box (like water) at an angle, then bending to go in a different direction inside the box.
3. Diffraction
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Description: The bending or spreading out of waves as they pass around an obstacle or through an opening.
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Examples: Hearing sound around a corner even if you can't see the source, water waves spreading out after passing through a gap in a barrier.
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Draw It: Draw straight parallel lines (waves) hitting a wall with a small hole in it. On the other side of the wall, draw the lines curving and spreading out like a fan.
4. Absorption
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Description: When the energy of a wave is taken in by matter and changed into another form of energy (usually heat), so the wave stops.
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Examples: Black asphalt getting hot in the sun (absorbing light), carpet muffling sound (absorbing sound waves).
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Draw It: Draw a wavy line hitting a thick, dark block. The line stops completely at the block, and maybe draw little "heat" squiggles rising from the block.
5. Interference
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Description: What happens when two or more waves overlap and combine together. They can add up to make a bigger wave or cancel each other out.
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Examples: Ripples on a pond crossing each other, noise-canceling headphones.
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Draw It: Draw two sets of wavy lines moving toward each other. Where they cross, draw a wave that is extra tall (constructive) or a flat line where they cancel out (destructive).
6. Resonance
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Description: When an object vibrates at its natural frequency because it absorbs energy from a wave with the same frequency. This makes the vibration get much stronger.
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Examples: A singer breaking a glass with their voice, pushing a swing at just the right time to make it go higher.
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Draw It: Draw a tuning fork vibrating next to a guitar string. Show the guitar string vibrating wildly even though nothing touched it directly.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of wave interactions worksheet.
