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The interaction of a wave at a "barrier" varies depending on the wave and the barrier. The wave could be reflected, it could be absorbed, or it could be refracted and passed through. Or it could be a combination of those things, meaning some could be reflected, some absorbed, and some refracted and transmitted through the material. If a wave on water encounters a concrete wall, it is reflected, but there are other waves. You can see a bit of reflection when you look into water, and you can see things under the water at the same time. That's a single example of the phenomenon, and that uses light, which is electromagnetic energy. Mechanical energy, like sound, might behave similarly. If we use sound to probe subterranean geologic structure, we see the differential way the sound waves are treated by the material down there when we look at returned signals, and that's a second example of waves interacting with "barriers" they encounter. If we consider the aluminum coating on, say, the 200 inch mirror of the Hale Telescope at the Palomar Observatory, almost all of the optical wavelengths of impinging light (about 97%) are reflected off that mirror. We could expect any electromagnetic energy of microwave or lower frequency to be reflected off this surface extremely well, too, as it is electrically conductive.

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When a wave bounces and hits a barrier what occurs?

When a wave hits a barrier, it can reflect, refract, or diffract. The behavior of the wave depends on the properties of the barrier and the type of wave. Reflection occurs when the wave bounces back off the barrier. Refraction happens when the wave changes direction as it passes through the barrier. Diffract refers to the bending of the wave around the edges of the barrier.


The return of a wave to the medium for which it came when it hits a barrier?

When a wave hits a barrier and reflects back in the same medium, it is called wave reflection. This happens because the barrier cannot absorb or transmit the wave energy. The angle of reflection is equal to the angle of incidence.


What two wave interactions happen when a wave hits a barrier?

When a wave hits a barrier, two wave interactions that can occur are reflection, where the wave bounces off the barrier and returns in the opposite direction, and diffraction, where the wave bends around the barrier and spreads out.


What happens when a wave encounters a solid barrier?

When a wave encounters a solid barrier, it can be reflected, absorbed, or diffracted around the barrier. The type of interaction depends on the wavelength and the nature of the barrier. Reflection occurs when the wave bounces off the barrier, absorption happens when the barrier absorbs the wave's energy, and diffraction occurs when the wave passes around the barrier and continues in a different direction.


What can happen if a sound wave hits a barrier?

When a sound wave hits a barrier, several things can happen: it can be absorbed by the barrier, reflected back, transmitted through the barrier (if it's not solid), or diffracted around the barrier. The actual outcome depends on the properties of both the barrier and the sound wave.

Related Questions

When a wave bounces and hits a barrier what occurs?

When a wave hits a barrier, it can reflect, refract, or diffract. The behavior of the wave depends on the properties of the barrier and the type of wave. Reflection occurs when the wave bounces back off the barrier. Refraction happens when the wave changes direction as it passes through the barrier. Diffract refers to the bending of the wave around the edges of the barrier.


The return of a wave to the medium for which it came when it hits a barrier?

When a wave hits a barrier and reflects back in the same medium, it is called wave reflection. This happens because the barrier cannot absorb or transmit the wave energy. The angle of reflection is equal to the angle of incidence.


What two wave interactions happen when a wave hits a barrier?

When a wave hits a barrier, two wave interactions that can occur are reflection, where the wave bounces off the barrier and returns in the opposite direction, and diffraction, where the wave bends around the barrier and spreads out.


What happens when a wave encounters a solid barrier?

When a wave encounters a solid barrier, it can be reflected, absorbed, or diffracted around the barrier. The type of interaction depends on the wavelength and the nature of the barrier. Reflection occurs when the wave bounces off the barrier, absorption happens when the barrier absorbs the wave's energy, and diffraction occurs when the wave passes around the barrier and continues in a different direction.


What can happen if a sound wave hits a barrier?

When a sound wave hits a barrier, several things can happen: it can be absorbed by the barrier, reflected back, transmitted through the barrier (if it's not solid), or diffracted around the barrier. The actual outcome depends on the properties of both the barrier and the sound wave.


What happens when the solid barrier reaches the wave barrier?

When a solid barrier reaches the wave barrier, it will prevent the wave from propagating further. The solid barrier will absorb or reflect the wave energy, causing a change in the wave pattern and possibly generating new waves as a result.


What happens when a wave hits a barrier it cannot pass through?

A mechanical wave travels through a medium because a medium is necessary for the propagation of that wave. With a mechanical wave, like sound, mechanical energy is put intothe wave, and the medium carries the energy of the wave. This is in contrast to an electromagnetic wave (like light) which can move through a total vacuum.


What is it called when a wave hits a barrier and bounces back off?

When a wave hits a barrier and bounces back off, it is known as wave reflection. This phenomenon occurs when the wave encounters a boundary that prevents it from passing through, causing it to reverse its direction.


What happens when a wave passes a barrier or moves through a hole in a barrier?

When a wave passes a barrier, it can diffract, which means it bends around the edges of the barrier. If the wave encounters a hole in a barrier, it can undergo diffraction and interfere with itself, creating patterns of constructive and destructive interference on the other side of the barrier or hole.


Two wave interactions that can occur when a wave encounters a barrier?

Two wave interactions that can occur when a wave encounters a barrier are reflection and diffraction. Reflection occurs when the wave bounces off the barrier, changing direction. Diffraction occurs when the wave bends around the barrier, spreading out after passing through it.


The bouncing back or change in direction of a wave after it hits a barrier?

"reflection"


What is the name of the wave that goes into the sound barrier?

The wave that occurs when an object approaches and breaks the sound barrier is called a shock wave. This phenomenon happens when the speed of the object exceeds the speed of sound, creating a sudden increase in pressure and temperature.