What phenomenon occurs when waves meet and combine?

When waves meet and combine, the phenomenon that occurs is known as interference. This process involves the overlapping of two or more waves, resulting in a new wave pattern. Interference can lead to areas of constructive interference, where waves reinforce each other, leading to increased amplitude. Conversely, it can also result in destructive interference, where waves cancel each other out, resulting in reduced amplitude.

Understanding interference is crucial in various applications, including sound, light, and water waves, as it helps explain complex wave patterns and behaviors observed in different contexts, such as noise canceling headphones or the patterns created by overlapping water waves.

In the case of refraction, diffraction, and reflection, these phenomena involve the bending, spreading, or bouncing back of waves, rather than the combination of their amplitudes as seen in interference. Thus, the key aspect that defines interference is the direct interaction and combination of wave properties.