You hear the sound of people talking through the open door in a classroom down the hall. This is an example of _____.
refraction
diffraction
the angle of incidence
reflection
This is an example of sound waves undergoing diffraction. Diffraction is the bending of waves around obstacles or through openings. In this case, the sound waves are bending around the open door, allowing them to be heard down the hall.
This is an example of reflection. Reflection occurs when sound waves bounce off a surface and return back to the source. In this case, the sound waves from the people talking hit the surface of the open door and bounce back, allowing you to hear the sound.
To determine the correct answer from the given options, it's helpful to understand the definitions of each term:
1. Refraction: Refraction is the bending of waves as they pass from one medium to another, such as when light waves pass from air to water.
2. Diffraction: Diffraction is the bending or spreading out of waves as they encounter an obstacle or pass through a narrow opening.
3. The angle of incidence: The angle of incidence is the angle at which a wave, such as a light or sound wave, approaches a surface.
4. Reflection: Reflection is the bouncing back of waves when they encounter a surface.
Since the sound waves are bouncing back off the open door, it is an example of reflection.