What occurs to waves when they encounter a barrier?

When waves encounter a barrier, they can exhibit three main behaviors: reflection, refraction, or absorption.

Reflection occurs when waves bounce back after hitting a barrier. This is commonly seen with sound waves reflecting off walls or light waves bouncing off mirrors. The angle at which the wave hits the barrier can determine how it reflects.

Refraction is the bending of waves as they pass from one medium into another, which happens at a boundary. This phenomenon can be observed when light waves pass from air into water, resulting in a change in direction and speed due to the different densities of the two mediums.

Absorption occurs when the energy of the wave is taken up by the barrier and transformed into other forms of energy, typically heat. This is evident, for example, when sound waves hit a soft surface, like fabric, which absorbs much of the sound energy.

The option that accurately describes these possibilities is the one that indicates that waves can be reflected, refracted, or absorbed.