Wave Behaviour at Boundaries

Question 1

In what direction would a light wave bend relative to the normal if the second material at a boundary was denser than the first?

Answer 1

The refracted ray bends towards the normal.

Question 2

Waves are either absorbed, transmitted or reflected at boundaries. Refraction is an example of which of these?

Answer 2

Transmission

The waves carry on travelling through the new material

Question 3

What happens to a wave’s energy when the wave is absorbed at a boundary?

Answer 3

Its energy is transferred to the energy stores of the material it is trying to cross into

Question 4

Whether a wave is reflected at a boundary can depend on the properties of the materials on either side of the boundary and the angle of incidence of the wave. Name one further factor that determines what happens to a wave at a boundary.

Answer 4

E.g. The wavelength of the wave