Another physics lesson

Waves change direction around a barrier-Diffraction!

I taught this in physics class using wave tanks, and a lake is like a giant uncontrollable wave tank.  Diffraction is why you can hear conversations from another room even if you aren't in direct line with the doorway.  And why you can still receive your radio station when you go under a bridge.  See here for an explanation.  (Scroll down past reflection, and refraction.  See here and here for examples of those.

Again, Yay physics!

Physics again

In a small creek, there was an interference pattern set up in the water.  As waves from reflections off different rocks came together, they formed a standing wave pattern. Explanation here.  Also, here's an interesting simulation. (link)  Well, interesting to me...

Interference

Wave interference on Falls Lake.
 You can see the nodal lines (places where a crest and trough come together to destructively interfere) and the antinodes (where the waves come together and add together to make a bigger wave). The wind had just shifted and set up interfering waves.  

Yay physics!

What is it?

Give up?

It's the reflection of my camera lens on a shiny door handle.  I was practicing with my new camera to see how close an image I could get.

Everything is mysterious in close up.

Watercolor with ducks

These ducks happily swam through the reflections.

Driftwood

Can it be called driftwood if it's from a lake?  The water was so serene that you can see the reflection of the clouds, and little shells on the bottom.

Cloud reflection

On a still day, the clouds were perfectly reflected off Falls Lake.

Refraction

Science lesson...(I can't help it!)

When light goes through a medium it refracts (bends) depending on the speed of light in that medium.  As the sunlight goes through the water drop it bends.  The flare shows the place where the light is focused and then escapes from the water drop...How's that for a science lesson?