📚 Topic Summary
Wave reflection occurs when a wave bounces off a boundary between two media, changing its direction but remaining in the same medium. Think of a mirror reflecting light or an echo reflecting sound. Wave refraction, on the other hand, happens when a wave passes from one medium to another, causing it to change speed and direction. This is why a straw in a glass of water appears bent. Both phenomena are governed by specific laws and principles related to wave behavior.
🧠 Part A: Vocabulary
Match the terms with their definitions:
| Term |
Definition |
| 1. Reflection |
A. The bending of a wave as it passes from one medium to another. |
| 2. Refraction |
B. The angle between the reflected ray and the normal. |
| 3. Angle of Incidence |
C. The bouncing of a wave off a surface. |
| 4. Angle of Reflection |
D. The angle between the incident ray and the normal. |
| 5. Normal |
E. A line perpendicular to the surface at the point of incidence. |
Match the following: 1-C, 2-A, 3-D, 4-B, 5-E
✍️ Part B: Fill in the Blanks
When a wave encounters a boundary, part of it may be ____, and part of it may be ____. The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of ____. When a wave moves from a less dense medium to a denser medium, it bends ____ the normal. Refraction is caused by a change in wave ____.
Answers: reflected, refracted, reflection, towards, speed
🤔 Part C: Critical Thinking
Explain, using examples, how understanding wave reflection and refraction is important in real-world applications (e.g., optics, acoustics).