What are the three ways that the path of light can change when it contacts matter?

1. It can be absorbed.

2. It can be reflected.

3. It can be transmitted.

Explanation:

Light is considered as a "complex phenomena". It tends to exhibits both particle-like and wave-like properties. However, the exact nature of light is not being understood completely and this complexity makes it even more difficult for a specific model to determine all the distinct properties of light.

Basically, three different things occur when a beam of light tends to hit a surface, including transmission, absorption, and reflection.