Reflection, Absorption & Transmission (AQA GCSE Physics)

Reflection, Absorption & Transmission

• Depending on the densities of the materials on either side of a boundary, a wave may be:

  • Reflected

  • Transmitted

  • Absorbed

Reflection

• Reflection occurs when:

  A wave hits a boundary between two media and does not pass through, but instead stays in the original medium

• The law of reflection states:

The angle of incidence = The angle of reflection

Reflection of a wave at a boundary

• Some of the wave may also be absorbed or transmitted

  • Echos are examples of sound waves being reflected off a surface

• Flat surfaces are the most reflective

  • The smoother the surface, the stronger the reflected wave is

• Rough surfaces are the least reflective

  • This is because the light scatters in all directions

• Opaque surfaces will reflect light which is not absorbed by the material

  • The electrons will absorb the light energy, then reemit it as a reflected wave

Transmission

• Transmission occurs when:

  A wave passes through a substance

• For light waves, the more transparent the material, the more light will pass through

• Transmission can involve refraction but is not exactly the same

• For the process to count as transmission, the wave must pass through the material and emerge from the other side

• When passing through a material, waves are usually partially absorbed

• The transmitted wave may have a lower amplitude because of some absorption

  • For example, sound waves are quieter after they pass through a wall

When a wave passes through a boundary it may be absorbed and transmitted

Absorption

• Absorption occurs when:

  Energy is transferred from the wave into the particles of a substance

• Waves can be partially or completely absorbed

  • Sound waves are absorbed by brick or concrete in houses

• Light will be absorbed if the frequency of light matches the energy levels of the electrons

  • The light will be absorbed, and then reemitted over time as heat

• If an object appears red, this means:

  • Only red light has been reflected

  • All the other frequencies of visible light have been absorbed

The object is seen as red since the red light is reflected whilst the other colours are absorbed

Reflection Ray Diagrams

• Angles are measured between the wave direction (ray) and a line at 90 degrees to the boundary

  • The angle of the wave approaching the boundary is called the angle of incidence (i)

  • The angle of the wave leaving the boundary is called the angle of reflection (r)

• The law of reflection states that these angles are the same:

Angle of incidence (i) = Angle of reflection (r)

Reflection of a wave at a boundary

• When drawing a ray diagram an arrow is used to show the direction the wave is travelling

  • An incident ray has an arrow pointing towards the boundary

  • A reflected ray has an arrow pointing away from the boundary

• The angles of incidence and reflection are usually labelled i and r respectively