Waves can interact with matter in several ways: Reflection occurs when a wave bounces off a surface it cannot pass through. Refraction is when a wave bends as it passes from one medium into another at an angle, occurring because the wave slows down on one side compared to the other. Diffraction is the bending of a wave as it travels around or through an opening, with larger wavelengths diffracting more through smaller openings. Polarization occurs when unpolarized light is turned into polarized light that travels in one direction only, such as when light reflects off a flat surface. Scattering redirects light as it passes through a medium, causing the sky to appear blue and sunsets orange/red due to scattering