Refraction

• 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 light wave behave when it hits the boundary at an angle?

  It is refracted and changes direction
• When light passes into a more dense medium, in which direction does it bend?

  Towards the normal
• What do we call the ray that emerges from the glass into the air?

  Emergent ray
• What is the first step in drawing a ray diagram for refraction?

  Draw the normal at the point of incidence
• What happens to the speed of a wave when it passes from glass to air?

  It speeds up
• According to the wave speed equation, what remains constant when a wave changes medium?

  Frequency
• What changes when the speed of a wave increases?

  Wavelength increases
• How do different wavelengths of light behave when passing through a triangular prism?

  They are refracted by different amounts
• What are the steps to draw a ray diagram for refraction?

  1. Draw the normal at the point of incidence.
  2. Draw the incident ray towards the normal.
  3. Determine the direction of the refracted ray.
  4. Draw the refracted ray into the new medium.
  5. Repeat for the emergent ray.
  6. Label angles of incidence and refraction.
• What is the relationship between wave speed, frequency, and wavelength?

  • Wave speed = frequency × wavelength
  • Frequency remains constant during refraction.
  • Wavelength changes with speed variations.
• How does white light behave when passing through a triangular prism?

  • White light contains all visible wavelengths.
  • Different wavelengths refract by different amounts.
  • Results in a spectrum of colors (rainbow effect).