Question

name: ceora benally
period: 2nd hour
understanding mechanical wave behavior: reflection, refraction, diffraction,
interference, and standing waves
mechanical waves are disturbances that travel through a medium, such as air, water, or
solids. they are responsible for many everyday phenomena, from the sound we hear to the
ripples on a pond. when mechanical waves encounter obstacles or different materials, they
can behave in different ways: they can bounce back (reflection), bend as they pass into a
new medium (refraction), spread out after passing through openings (diffraction), combine
with other waves (interference), or even form patterns that seem to stand still (standing
waves). understanding these behaviors helps us explain everything from echoes to the
colors seen in soap bubbles.
fill in the blank: diffraction, standing, interference, reflection, refraction

1. when a wave bounces off a surface and changes direction, it is called

__________________________.

1. when a wave bends as it passes from one medium to another, this behavior is known as

__________________________.

1. the spreading out of waves as they move around a barrier or through an opening is

called __________________________.

1. when two or more waves meet and combine, the process is called

__________________________.

1. a __________________________ wave appears to stay in one place and is

formed by the interference of two waves traveling in opposite directions.
multiple choice questions: choose the correct answer from the choices for each
question.

1. which wave behavior causes an echo when you shout in a canyon?

a) diffraction
b) reflection
c) refraction
d) interference

Explanation:

1. The definition of reflection is when a wave bounces off a surface and changes direction.
2. Refraction is when a wave bends as it passes from one medium to another.
3. Diffraction is the spreading out of waves as they move around a barrier or through an opening.
4. Interference is when two or more waves meet and combine.
5. A standing wave appears to stay in one place and is formed by the interference of two waves traveling in opposite directions.

For the multiple - choice question:

• An echo is caused by the reflection of sound waves. When you shout in a canyon, the sound waves bounce off the canyon walls (reflection) and come back to you as an echo.

Answer:

1. reflection
2. refraction
3. diffraction
4. interference
5. standing

Multiple - Choice Question: b) Reflection