When energy waves fall on a surface, they can be ______ or ______.

When energy waves encounter a surface, they can interact with that surface in several ways. The process by which they can be absorbed or reflected is fundamental in understanding how energy transfer occurs.

Absorption refers to the process where the energy waves are taken in by the surface, converting the energy into other forms, often as heat. This is particularly relevant in contexts like thermal dynamics and material science, where the properties of materials dictate how much energy is absorbed.

Reflection, on the other hand, describes the bouncing back of energy waves from the surface without being absorbed. This is a critical principle in optics and acoustics, where understanding how light or sound reflects can inform the design of everything from entertainment spaces to safety equipment in emergency services.

The other options do not accurately describe the interactions of energy waves with a surface in the context of civil service training related to fire and police operations. While terms like "intensified," "dulled," "heated," and "cooled" may involve energy changes, they do not specifically encapsulate the primary ways that energy waves interact with surfaces as absorption and reflection do.