Asked by wholemelt

Kendra wants to use similes to describe the reflection and absorption of waves. Which pair of similes best fit?

Reflection is like bouncing a tennis ball, and absorption is like water soaking into a paper towel.
Reflection is like water soaking into a paper towel, and absorption is like bouncing a tennis ball.
Reflection is the way a straw appears in a glass of water, and absorption is the separation of colors from a prism.
Reflection is the separation of colors from a prism, and absorption is the way a straw appears in a glass of water

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
The first pair is best: Reflection is like bouncing a tennis ball, and absorption is like water soaking into a paper towel.

Reason: reflection means the wave (or its energy) is sent back from a surface — like a ball bouncing off — while absorption means the wave’s energy is taken in by the material — like water soaking into a towel. (The other examples describe refraction and dispersion.)