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Waves can and do meet boundaries in their medium. When a wave meets a
boundary, it can be reflected or transmitted.
Transmitted waves are refracted or diffracted:
- Reflection can be partial
or complete. Reflection can also involve a phase flip (change of phase
of 180 degrees.)
- Refraction occurs
when a wave crosses a boundary from one medium to another. A wave
entering a medium at an angle will change direction.
- Diffraction refers to
the "bending of waves around an edge" of an object.
Diffraction depends on the size of the object relative to the
wavelength of the wave.
All these phenomena apply to electromagnetic waves, such as light
waves, as well as to pressure waves and water waves.
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Click
Here for an interactive understanding of reflection!
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