Reflection & Refraction Flashcards
What three things can happen when a wave arrives at a boundary between two different materials
The wave is absorbed by the material the wave is trying to cross into - this transfer energy in the materials energy stores
The waves are transmitted (the wave carries on travelling through the new material) this often leads to refraction
The waves are reflected
What’s the rule for all reflected/refracted waves
Angle of incidence = angle of reflection
What is the angle of incidence
The angle between the incoming wave and the normal
What is the angle of reflection
The angle between the reflected wave and the normal
What is the normal
An imaginary line that is perpendicular to the point where the wave hits the boundary
What is speculation reflection
Specular reflection is what happens when a wave is reflected in a single direction by a smooth surface eg when light is reflected by a mirror
What is diffuse reflection
Diffuse reflection is when a wave is reflected by a rough surface and the reflected waves are scattered in lots of different directions
What is refraction
When a wave crosses a boundary AT AN ANGLE and it changes direction
What happens to the wavelength and frequency when a wave is refracted
The wavelength changes but the frequency stays the same
When don’t waves refract when crossing a boundary between two different materials
When the wave is travelling along the normal ( it will change speed but it won’t refract)
Do waves travel faster or slower when travelling into a denser material
Slower
