Refraction of Waves

• What is the phenomenon called when light waves change direction as they pass from one medium to another?

  Refraction
• What happens to light waves when they travel from air into glass?

  They slow down and change direction
• Why do waves travel at different speeds in different materials?

  Because different materials have different densities
• What happens to a wave when it travels from a less dense medium to a more dense medium?

  It slows down
• What is the normal line in the context of refraction?

  A dashed line perpendicular to the surface
• How does a wave behave when it hits the boundary at an angle while entering a more dense medium?

  It bends towards the normal
• How should you draw the refracted ray in a ray diagram when light enters glass?

  Draw it bending towards the normal
• What do you call the ray that emerges from the glass after refraction?

  Emergent ray
• What must be added to a ray diagram to complete it?

  Angles of incidence and refraction
• What does the wave speed equation state?

  Wave speed equals frequency times wavelength
• What remains constant when a wave passes from one medium to another?

  Frequency
• What happens to the wavelength when the speed of a wave increases?

  The wavelength must increase as well
• How do different wavelengths of light behave when passing through a triangular prism?

  They are refracted by different amounts
• What is the process of drawing a ray diagram for light refraction?

  1. Draw the normal line at the point of incidence.
  2. Draw the incident ray towards the normal.
  3. Draw the refracted ray bending towards the normal.
  4. Draw the normal again at the exit point.
  5. Draw the emergent ray bending away from the normal.
  6. Label the angles of incidence and refraction.
• What are the key concepts related to the refraction of light?

  • Refraction occurs at medium boundaries.
  • Light slows down in denser materials.
  • Waves bend towards the normal in denser media.
  • Frequency remains constant; wavelength changes.
  • Different wavelengths refract differently.