Waves and boundaries

Waves and boundaries

1. Waves can show different effects when they move one material to another. These changes can occur at the boundary or interface between the two materials.

2. Waves and Boundaries Whenever a sound wave, light wave or water wave reaches the boundary between two materials, the wave can be: Reflected, Refracted, Absorbed or Transmitted.

3. Different substances reflect, refract, transmit or absorb waves in ways that vary with the wavelength. Different wavelengths of radiation are absorbed by molecules in the atmosphere by different amounts

4. Wavelength , absorption and transmission 1) Water molecules absorb microwave and infrared wavelength but they transmit radio waves which have longer wavelengths 2) Infrared radiation is transmitted by a black plastic bag, but visible rays are not, as visible rays have a shorter wavelength - they will be absorbed.

5. Refraction Sound waves, water waves and light waves can all be refracted. Refraction can result in a change of both speed and direction. The direction does not change if the wavefronts travel perpendicular to the normal.