# A student is investigating waves at a boundary between two different materials. The student notices that when a wave travelling through one material reaches the boundary with a second material, some of the wave passes into the second material and some of the wave bounces back. Explain what happens to a wave at a boundary between two materials, referring to both transmission and reflection.

> OCR GCSE Physics A: Gateway Science (J249) — P4.1 Wave behaviour · Explain · 4 marks

> Waves can behave in different ways when they reach a boundary between two different materials. The behaviour depends on the properties of the two materials.

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Some of the wave is transmitted through the boundary into the second material
2. The transmitted wave may change direction / be refracted at the boundary
3. Some of the wave is reflected back at the boundary
4. The angle of reflection equals the angle of incidence (for the reflected wave)

## Key terms

- [transmission](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/transmission)
- [reflection](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/reflection)
- [boundary](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/boundary)

## Related

- [Revision notes for OCR GCSE Physics A: Gateway Science (J249)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-student-is-investigating-waves-at-6b884499) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.