Question

What does it mean for waves to be absorbed by a certain medium? Make sure to include energy in your explanation.

Answer 1

When an electromagnetic wave impinges on a material, it can be transmitted, reflected, or absorbed. Absorption occurs when the material absorbs some or all of the energy carried by the wave, leading to an increase in internal energy and heating up of the material.

Step-by-step explanation:

When an electromagnetic wave impinges on a material, there are three possible outcomes:

1. If the material is transparent to the particular frequency, the wave can largely be transmitted.
2. If the material is opaque to the frequency, the wave can be totally reflected.
3. The wave can also be absorbed by the material, indicating some interaction between the wave and the material, such as the thermal agitation of molecules.

Absorption means that the material absorbs some or all of the energy carried by the wave. This can lead to an increase in the internal energy of the material, causing it to heat up.

Answer 2

Absorption of waves which is the conversion of wave energy to other forms of energy as a result of the interaction between the wave and the medium which it propagates