---
title: "Waves & Different Materials"
description: "Explain how waves can be absorbed, transmitted, or reflected by different materials, and apply these interactions to explain colour perception, sight, communication technologies, and the effects of di"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/waves-and-different-materials-mt_w5HzPpOUmj
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/waves-and-different-materials-mt_w5HzPpOUmj.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

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# Waves & Different Materials

Explain how waves can be absorbed, transmitted, or reflected by different materials, and apply these interactions to explain colour perception, sight, communication technologies, and the effects of different surfaces on wave behaviour

Subject: Science · Area: Waves, Light & Sound · Ages 12 to 13
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/waves-and-different-materials-mt_w5HzPpOUmj

## Ready when they can

- Explains the difference between absorption, transmission, and reflection of waves
- Uses the three interactions to explain how we see coloured objects
- Explains how radio waves, visible light, and infrared are used in different communication technologies
- Describes how the properties of a surface (colour, texture, material) determine how it interacts with radiation

## Lesson: Waves meeting materials

You already know that visible light, infrared, and radio waves are all part of the electromagnetic spectrum. When any of these waves reaches a material, one of three things happens: the material absorbs it, transmits it, or reflects it.

*(drawing: A black t-shirt absorbs about 90% of the sunlight hitting it. A white t-shirt reflects most of that light away, so it absorbs far less and stays cooler.)*

**Example.** A ripe apple looks red because its skin reflects red light back to your eyes and absorbs the other colours in sunlight. If the skin absorbed every colour, including red, the apple would look black instead.

**Example.** Radio waves pass through walls, so they carry signals for radio, TV, and wifi across a house or city. Visible light travels through glass and thin optical fibres, carrying messages through fibre-optic internet cables. Infrared cannot pass through walls, which is why a remote control only works when you point it at the device.

**Tip.** Dark, rough, matte surfaces absorb more radiation. Light-coloured, smooth, shiny surfaces reflect more. That is one reason mirrors are shiny and silver, while solar panels are usually dark.

**Recap.** Every wave that meets a material is absorbed, transmitted, or reflected, and the colour and texture of the surface decide how much of each happens.

## Practice

8 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [Wave properties & types](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/wave-properties-and-types-mt_LxK9OKZQZX)
- [The Electromagnetic Spectrum](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/the-electromagnetic-spectrum-mt_XSp-S0wter)

## Opens up

- [The Electromagnetic Spectrum: Uses and Dangers](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/the-electromagnetic-spectrum-uses-and-dangers-mt_P_NXNSo1zQ)