What is wave reflection?

Wave reflection is the bouncing back of a wave when it hits a boundary.

When a wave encounters a boundary, it can either be absorbed or reflected. Reflection occurs when the wave bounces back in the opposite direction of its original path. The angle of incidence, or the angle at which the wave hits the boundary, is equal to the angle of reflection, or the angle at which the wave bounces back. This is known as the law of reflection.

The amount of reflection that occurs depends on the properties of the boundary. If the boundary is smooth and flat, such as a mirror, most of the wave will reflect back. If the boundary is rough or uneven, such as a rocky shoreline, some of the wave will scatter in different directions and only a portion will reflect back.

Wave reflection can be observed in many everyday situations, such as when sound waves bounce off walls in a room or when light waves reflect off a mirror. It is also important in fields such as acoustics, where it is used to control sound in concert halls and recording studios, and in optics, where it is used to create mirrors and lenses.