When light is partially reflected from a surface, there is a change in its

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To analyze what happens when light is partially reflected, let's examine what each property does at a boundary.
Option a: frequency. In reflection and transmission at a boundary between two media, the frequency of light remains unchanged. The boundary does not alter the oscillation rate of the electromagnetic wave; it stays the same as the incident frequency.
Option b: wavelength. The wavelength can change when light enters a different medium because wavelength = velocity / frequency. While frequency is fixed across the boundary, the speed of light changes between media, so the wavelength in the new medium adjusts accordingly. However, this applies to the transmitted or refracted wave, not specifically to the partially reflected portion alone.
Option c: speed. The speed of light does change when transitioning between media, due to a different refractive index. Yet the act of partial reflection itself does not impose a new speed beyond what the medium dictates; the reflected ray travels back in the original medium at that medium’s speed, so this is not a unique change caused by partial reflection per se.
Option d: all of these. Since frequency remains the same across the boundary and not all aspects change solely because of partial reflection, this option is incorrect.
Option e: intensity. When light is partially reflected, only a portion of the incident light is reflected, and only a portion is transmitted. This division results in a change in the intensity (brightness) of the reflected wave compared to the incident wave, as governed by the reflection and transmission coefficients. The intensity of the reflected light is typically less than that of the incident light, depending on the angle and the media; thus a change in intensity is the characteristic outcome of partial reflection.
In summary, the primary observable change associated with partial reflection among the listed properties is a change in intensity, while frequency remains unchanged, wavelength and speed adapt to the medium for each component, and not all properties change simultaneously. Therefore, option e correctly identifies the change introduced by partial reflection.

MUF0122 Physics Unit 2 - Semester 2, 2025 2.19 Reflection, refraction, dispersion, polarisation and diffraction

When light is partially reflected from a surface, there is a change in its

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