Wave Reflection, Absorption, and Transmittance

Getting Started

➢Complete the notes in your composition

notebook.
Write definitions
Write Star Tips
Draw your examples
Add at least 4 COLORS

Waves

➢Remember there are two types of waves:
➢Mechanical Waves

Require a medium to travel
Sound is the best known example.

➢Electromagnetic Waves

Do not require a medium to travel
Light is the best known example.

Wave Behaviors

➢There are 5 types of wave behaviors we will

explore this week:
 Reflection
 Refraction
 Diffraction
 Absorption
 Transmission

Poll

How many of these words are you familiar with?

Refraction, Reflection, Absorption, Diffraction, Transmission

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

• 5

Reflection

➢Reflection

when a wave hits

an object and
bounces off

Always remember, the
angle of the reflected

beam will ALWAYS
EQUAL the angle of

the incident beam.

Examples of Reflection

Reflected

Light

Reflected

Sound

Echo

Absorption

➢When a traveling wave (sound/light) hits

another object and loses energy and taken
in by the object.

Dark colors absorb
more energy than

lighter colors.

Multiple Choice

Which of the figures represents reflection?

• A

• B

• C

• D

Multiple Choice

What type of wave behavior is pictured above?

• Refraction

• Reflection

• Absorption

• Diffraction

Multiple Choice

What is the definition reflection?

• The bending of waves as they enter a new medium

• Bouncing back of waves from a surface that it can’t pass through

• The bending of waves as they pass through openings or around corners

• When two interfering waves have a displacement in the same direction, two crests and two troughs overlap. Increased amplitude.

Multiple Choice

Which of the figures represents absorption?

• A

• B

• C

• D

Transmission

➢Transmission

when a wave

passes through
an object.

Waves transmit

differently when they
travel through objects.

Examples of
Transmission

Transmitted

Light

Transmitted

Sound

Airplane
Window

Refraction

➢Refraction

bending of waves when passing

from one medium (solid, liquid,
gas) to another

caused by a change in speed

SLOWER

FASTER
• slower (more dense)  light or sound

bends toward the original wave

• faster (less dense)  light or sound

bends away from the original wave

Refraction of Light

➢Example:

View explanation.

Refraction of Light

Refraction of Sound

Multiple Choice

This image best depicts which of the following wave behaviors?

• Reflection

• Refraction

• Diffraction

• Resonance

Multiple Choice

Refraction occurs when _____________

• the wave's speed changes by entering a new medium

• a wave bounces off of a boundary

• waves parts meet each other

• waves bend around a barrier

Multiple Choice

Which of the following represents refraction?

• A

• B

• C

• D

Diffraction

➢Diffraction

Bending (divides) of

waves around a
barrier

Diffraction of Light

Diffraction of Sound

Combination of all

behaviors

Multiple Choice

This image depicts which of the following wave behaviors?

• Reflection

• Refraction

• Diffraction

• Resonance

Multiple Choice

• absorption

• diffraction

• reflection

• refraction

• transmission

Multiple Choice

• absorption

• diffraction

• reflection

• refraction

• transmission

Multiple Choice

What is a medium?

• something between a small and a large?

• the substance through which a wave can travel

• a pattern of vibration that simulates when a wave is standing still

• the distance from any point on a wave to an identical point on the next wave

Multiple Choice

What is the main difference between refraction and diffraction?

• refraction is a phenomenon that affects light; diffraction is a phenomenon that affects sound

• refraction involves the bending of light; diffraction involves the bending and spreading of light, usually around an obstacle

Multiple Choice

Rainbows are made by...

• water

• rain

• Water droplets act as prisms to separate white light into the ROYGBIV spectrum