Question

serena draws a diagram to compare what happens when rays hit a boundary and are either reflected or refracted. which labels belong in the areas marked x, y, and z? ○ x: ray bounces off a boundary and maintains constant speed y: ray changes direction z: ray passes through a boundary and changes speed ○ x: ray bounces off a boundary and changes speed y: ray changes direction z: ray passes through a boundary and maintains constant speed ○ x: ray bounces off a boundary and changes direction y: ray maintains constant speed z: ray passes through a boundary and does not change direction ○ x: ray bounces off a boundary and does not change direction y: ray maintains constant speed z: ray passes through a boundary and changes

Explanation:

• Reflection: When a ray reflects, it bounces off a boundary. Since it remains in the same medium (before and after reflection), its speed remains constant.
• Both reflection and refraction: In both cases, the direction of the ray changes.
• Refraction: When a ray refracts, it passes through a boundary (from one medium to another). As the medium changes, the speed of the ray changes (because the speed of light/rays depends on the medium they are in).

Answer:

X: ray bounces off a boundary and maintains constant speed
Y: ray changes direction
Z: ray passes through a boundary and changes speed