StellarTransmission & Reflection
Just like with optics in Unit 5, waves can enter different mediums. When light enters a different medium, it will either transmit or reflect. A transmitted wave will continue traveling in the same direction as the initial wave but a reflected wave will travel in the opposite direction.
When a wave reflects off a medium that has a higher index of refraction, it will be inverted. Conversely, if the medium has a lower index of refraction, the wave won’t be inverted. This inversion does not change the frequency of the wave. Just like light, when the wave enters the higher index of refraction medium, it the wave will slow down.
Another example can be when a wave on a string enters a more dense part of the string. When this happens, there will be a transmitted wave and a reflected wave.