Which term describes waves passing through a material?

• A. Refraction
• B. Reflection
• C. Absorption
• D. Transmission

Answer: (D)

The concept here is transmission: when waves pass through a material and continue on to the other side. Transmission describes the wave's ability to propagate through the medium, sometimes with some attenuation, but still moving forward through the material.

Refraction would involve the wave changing direction as it moves into a new medium due to a change in speed, not just passing through. Reflection is the wave bouncing back from the boundary. Absorption is when the material takes energy from the wave, reducing its amplitude as it travels. So the term that best describes waves continuing through a material is transmission. For example, light passing through glass or sound traveling through a wall illustrates transmission, whereas the other terms describe bending, bouncing, or energy loss rather than simply passing through.