Reflection

Question 1

When waves arrive at a boundary between different materials what 3 things can happen

1. The waves are a… by the m…, transferring energy to the m… energy s…
2. The waves are t…, they carry on t… through the material
   —>often leads to r…
3. The waves are r…

Answer 1

1. The waves are absorbed by the material, transferring energy to the materials energy stores
2. The waves are transmitted, they carry on travelling though the material
   —>often leads to refraction
3. The waves are reflected

Question 2

What does the angle of incidence always equal

Answer 2

The angle of reflection

Question 3

What is the normal

Answer 3

The imaginary line that’s perpendicular to the surface at the point of incidence

Question 4

What are the 2 types of reflections

Answer 4

Specular or diffuse

Question 5

What is specular reflection

Answer 5

-where a wave is reflected in a single direction by a smooth surface eg. Mirrors

Question 6

What is diffuse reflection

-where a w… is reflected by a r… surface eg. P…, so the r… rays are s… in lots of different d…
-this is because the n… is d… for every ray, so the angle of i… is different for each ray

Answer 6

-where a wave is reflected by a rough surface eg. Paper, so the reflected rays are scattered in lots of different directions
-this is because the normal is different for every ray, so the angle of incidence is different for each ray

Question 7

Why do rough surfaces appear matte

Answer 7

-because there is not a clear reflection of the object due to diffuse reflection