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A mechanical wave travels through a medium because a medium is necessary for the propagation of that wave. With a mechanical wave, like sound, mechanical energy is put intothe wave, and the medium carries the energy of the wave. This is in contrast to an electromagnetic wave (like light) which can move through a total vacuum.

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βˆ™ 13y ago
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βˆ™ 4mo ago

When a wave hits a barrier it cannot pass through, it will reflect off the barrier and change direction. The angle at which the wave reflects off the barrier is equal to the angle at which it initially hit the barrier. This is known as the law of reflection.

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βˆ™ 13y ago

It will bounce back.

reflection is the bouncing back of an object or wave when it hits a surface through wich it cannot pass.

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βˆ™ 12y ago

They reflect back.

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Q: What happens when a wave hits a barrier it cannot pass through?
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Related questions

The return of a wave to the medium for which it came when it hits a barrier?

When a wave hits a barrier and reflects back in the same medium, it is called wave reflection. This happens because the barrier cannot absorb or transmit the wave energy. The angle of reflection is equal to the angle of incidence.


When a wave bounces and hits a barrier what occurs?

When a wave hits a barrier, it can reflect, refract, or diffract. The behavior of the wave depends on the properties of the barrier and the type of wave. Reflection occurs when the wave bounces back off the barrier. Refraction happens when the wave changes direction as it passes through the barrier. Diffract refers to the bending of the wave around the edges of the barrier.


What is it called when light hits a surface that it cannot pass through?

There is no scientific term for what happens when light hits an opaque object I'm afraid to say.


What can happen if a sound wave hits a barrier?

When a sound wave hits a barrier, several things can happen: it can be absorbed by the barrier, reflected back, transmitted through the barrier (if it's not solid), or diffracted around the barrier. The actual outcome depends on the properties of both the barrier and the sound wave.


What is it called when a wave hits a barrier and bounces back off?

When a wave hits a barrier and bounces back off, it is known as wave reflection. This phenomenon occurs when the wave encounters a boundary that prevents it from passing through, causing it to reverse its direction.


What happens on sound waves when it hits a barrier?

When a sound wave hits a barrier, it can be reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through the barrier. The amount of sound that is reflected, absorbed, or transmitted depends on the properties of the barrier, such as its material and thickness. Reflection occurs when the barrier is dense and rigid, while absorption occurs when the barrier is soft and porous. Transmission occurs when the barrier is thin and non-porous.


What happens when light hits an object that it cannot pass through?

When light hits an object that it cannot pass through, it undergoes reflection or absorption. Reflection occurs when light bounces off the object's surface, while absorption results in the light being absorbed by the object, converting energy into heat. The specific outcome depends on the properties of the object and the light itself.


What two wave interactions happen when a wave hits a barrier?

When a wave hits a barrier, two wave interactions that can occur are reflection, where the wave bounces off the barrier and returns in the opposite direction, and diffraction, where the wave bends around the barrier and spreads out.


When a wave hits a surface through which it cannot pass it bounces back and undergoes what?

Reflection


What happens when light hits an object it cannot pass through?

If the light can not pass through a object it is opaque . The light will reflect or be absorbed by the object.


What are two things a wave can do when it encounters a barrier?

Hello, Well, When something hits a barrier it can either go through it or bounce off. Like a bullet. When you fire a bullet at a wall, if the wall is soft it would pass through and if it is too strong, the bullet would ricochet off the wall. For waves, they either pass into the barrier using the barrier as a medium or bounce off. Remember that when some waves that hit the barrier transfer, there would be always some who 'bounce back' The words I use are not entirely scientifically correct but you get the idea. Hope I Helped


When a wave hits a surface through which it CANNOT pass and bounces back it undergoes?

When a wave hits a surface through which it cannot pass and bounces back, it undergoes reflection. The angle at which the wave hits the surface is equal to the angle at which it bounces back, following the law of reflection.