A wave is a disturbance that travels through a medium, transporting energy from one location to another location. When a wave encounters a new medium, a barrier, or another wave, it can behave in one or more different ways. In physics, these behaviors are described using some of the terms below.
Reflection occurs when waves hit an object and bounce off in a singular direction.
Scattering occurs when waves bounce off an object in a variety of directions.
Transmission occurs when waves pass through a given point or medium.
Refraction is the bending of waves caused by a change in their speed as they pass from one medium to another.
⌾ As waves pass at an angle from one medium to another, they may speed up or slow down.
⌾ The greater the change in speed of the waves, the more the waves will bend.