Describe the interaction between a wave and a boundary.

• A wave that travels from one medium to another can be transmitted or reflected, depending on the properties of the boundary separating the two media.
• A wave traveling from one medium to another (for example, a wave traveling between low-mass and high-mass strings) will result in reflected and transmitted waves.
• A reflected wave is inverted if the transmitted wave travels into a medium in which the speed of the wave decreases.
• A reflected wave is not inverted if the transmitted wave travels into a medium in which the speed of the wave increases.
• The frequency of a wave does not change when it travels from one medium to another.
• Transverse waves that are reflected from a surface, refracted through a medium, or pass through specific openings may be polarized.
• Transverse waves can be polarized and oscillate in a single plane.
• Longitudinal waves cannot be polarized.
• Polarization of a wave may result in a reduction of the wave’s intensity.
• Intensity is a measure of the amount of power transferred per unit area.
• The intensity of a wave is the average power per unit area over one period of the wave.

More videos

Simulation page: Wave on a String

Simulation page: Bending Light

Other simulations

• Wave Pulse Reflection (Free & Fixed Ends)
• Polarization of Light