# When a student shines a beam of visible light onto a sheet of glass, some of the light is reflected, some is absorbed, and some is transmitted through the glass. Explain what happens to the energy of the photons that are absorbed by the glass.

> Eduqas GCSE Physics — 6.2 Interactions of electromagnetic radiation with matter · Explain · 4 marks

> Different materials interact with electromagnetic radiation in different ways. When radiation strikes a material, it can be reflected, absorbed, or transmitted.

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. The absorbed photons transfer their energy to the atoms/electrons in the glass
2. The atoms/electrons are raised to a higher energy level (excited)
3. The atoms/electrons return to a lower energy level and re-emit a photon
4. The frequency/wavelength of the re-emitted photon depends on the energy difference between the levels / the emitted photon may have a different frequency to the incident photon

## Key terms

- [absorbed](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/absorbed)
- [photon](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/photon)

## Related

- [Revision notes for Eduqas GCSE Physics](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/when-a-student-shines-a-beam-e408d904) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.