UNIT 1: WAVES Lesson 6 : Reflection of Waves

Reflection - when a wave bounces off of an object  Reflection is what allows you to see an object that does not emit its own light.  We would not be able to see the moon if the sun’s light did not reflect off of it. The moon does not produce its own light.

Reflection and Scattering of Light Waves  Smooth, shiny surfaces like mirrors (or a calm lake) reflect light in a straight line – giving you a mirror image.  But most objects aren’t as smooth as a mirror, so they reflect light in all directions – which is called the scattering of light.

Why is the sky blue? The sky appears blue because the air particles scatter the blue light more than any other color.

Why are clouds white? Remember… white light contains all colors of the rainbow.

Reflection of Sound Waves  an echo!!!!

Bats and Dolphins use echolocation to find food. They do this by producing sounds or sonar clicks that are reflected back when they strike an object.

Today’s Activity  Reflection Mini-lab