To determine whether the reflected portion or the transmitted portion will have more of the original amplitude/energy in a wave, you need to consider the properties of the medium and the nature of the boundary over which the wave is reflecting or transmitting. The behavior of waves at boundaries is described by the laws of reflection and transmission, which depend on the properties of the medium and the angle of incidence.
Law of Reflection: When a wave encounters a boundary between two different media, such as when light reflects off a mirror or sound reflects off a wall, the angle of incidence (the angle between the incident wave and the normal to the surface) is equal to the angle of reflection (the angle between the reflected wave and the normal to the surface). However, the amplitude of the reflected wave can be influenced by factors such as the properties of the media and the angle of incidence.
a. Specular Reflection: In specular reflection, the wave reflects off a smooth surface, like a mirror. In this case, the reflected wave maintains the original amplitude/energy to a significant degree, assuming minimal losses due to absorption or scattering.
b. Diffuse Reflection: In diffuse reflection, the wave reflects off a rough or irregular surface, like a matte wall. Here, the reflected wave is scattered in different directions, and the amplitude/energy may be distributed over a wider area, resulting in a decrease in the reflected amplitude/energy compared to the incident wave.
Law of Transmission: When a wave passes through a boundary between two different media, such as light passing from air to water or sound passing from air to a solid object, the transmission of the wave is governed by the refractive index and the angle of incidence.
a. Transmission through Transparent Media: When a wave passes from one transparent medium to another (e.g., air to water), part of the wave is reflected and part is transmitted. The transmitted wave retains a portion of the original amplitude/energy, although some energy may be lost due to absorption or scattering within the medium.
b. Total Internal Reflection: Total internal reflection occurs when a wave encounters a boundary between two media, and the angle of incidence is such that the wave is entirely reflected back into the same medium instead of being transmitted. In this case, the reflected wave retains the original amplitude/energy.
The specific conditions and properties of the medium and the boundary surface play a crucial role in determining the proportion of energy that is reflected or transmitted. It is important to note that energy conservation principles apply, so the sum of the reflected and transmitted energy will equal the incident energy, assuming no losses due to absorption or scattering.