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Chapter 6: Problem 14

What useful thing happens to a wave when it encounters a concave reflecting surface?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: When a wave encounters a concave reflecting surface, the wavefronts reflect at various angles due to the surface's curvature, and they converge towards a single point known as the focal point. This focusing feature of concave surfaces is useful in applications like dish antennas and parabolic microphones, which require focusing waves to enhance signal reception or capture sound waves from a single direction.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the Reflection Principle

When a wave encounters a surface, it bounces back or reflects based on the law of reflection: The angle of incidence (the angle between the incoming wave and a line perpendicular to the surface) is equal to the angle of reflection (the angle between the reflected wave and the same perpendicular line).
02

Comprehend Concave Reflecting Surfaces

A concave surface is curved inward, resembling the inner part of a sphere or a bowl. When the wave encounters a concave reflecting surface, the curvature of the surface results in a distinct reflection pattern.
03

Identify Wave Reflection Process on a Concave Surface

As the wave hits a concave surface, each part of the wavefronts (lines parallel to the parallel crests of the waves) encounters the surface at different times due to the surface's curvature. Therefore, these parts will reflect at various angles based on the reflection principle.
04

Determine the Result of Wave Reflection

Due to the curvature of the concave surface, the reflected wavefronts will converge towards a single point known as the focal point. The concave surface focuses the waves towards the focal point, and this is the useful thing that happens when a wave encounters a concave reflecting surface.
05

Examples of Concave Reflecting Surface Applications

This focusing feature of concave surfaces is utilized in various applications, such as dish antennas for receiving or transmitting signals and parabolic microphones that capture sound waves from a single direction.

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