What is the boundary behaviour of waves?

The boundary behaviour of waves refers to how waves behave when they encounter a boundary or interface between two different media.

In physics, when waves encounter a boundary between two different media, they can either be reflected, refracted, or absorbed. This is known as the boundary behaviour of waves. The specific behaviour depends on the properties of the waves and the media they are interacting with.

Reflection occurs when a wave hits a boundary and bounces back into the original medium. This is similar to how light reflects off a mirror. The angle at which the wave hits the boundary (the angle of incidence) is equal to the angle at which it reflects (the angle of reflection). This is known as the law of reflection.

Refraction is when a wave crosses a boundary into a new medium and changes direction. This happens because the wave changes speed when it enters the new medium, causing it to bend. The amount of bending, or refraction, depends on the change in speed and is described by Snell's law.

Absorption is when a wave hits a boundary and its energy is absorbed by the new medium. This can cause the wave to lose amplitude and eventually disappear. The amount of absorption depends on the properties of the wave and the new medium.

In addition to these behaviours, waves can also undergo transmission, where they continue through the new medium without changing direction, and diffraction, where they spread out after passing through a gap or around an obstacle.

The boundary behaviour of waves is a fundamental concept in wave physics and is crucial for understanding many natural phenomena and technological applications. For example, it explains why we see rainbows, why glasses help us see better, and how radar and sonar work. It's also essential for understanding how light and sound behave, which is important in fields such as optics, acoustics, and telecommunications.