Physics Quest - Wave Phenomena

Resonance

Every object has a natural frequency at which it will vibrate.  If an force is applied with a matching frequency, large amplitude vibrations will occur.

Examples:  
  1. Breaking Glass with the Human Voice
    1. Why does the glass break?
    2. How does he find the natural frequency of the glass?
  2. Tacoma Narrows Bridge Collapse
    1. How does this collapse relate to standing waves and resonance?
Doppler Shift
  1. The Doppler Shift and Sonic Boom  Read the page about Doppler Shift and Sonic Booms.
    1. What is Doppler Shift?
    2. What causes Doppler Shift?
    3. What happens when the speed of an aircraft exceeds the speed of sound?  Why does this happen.
    4. Watch the video on sonic booms.
Refraction
  1. Watch this animation.  Examine what happens to the light beam as it travels from air to the glass.  How does its direction change?
  2. What is refraction?
Made 25 April 2008
by Lori Andersen.