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

  Because different materials have different densities.
• How does the density of a material affect the speed of electromagnetic waves like light?

  The higher the density, the slower the wave travels through it.
• What occurs when a wave travels from a less dense medium to a more dense medium?

  It slows down and bends towards the normal.
• What happens to a wave that hits the boundary between two materials at an angle?

  It will be refracted, changing its direction.
• What is the normal line in the context of refraction?

  A dashed line perpendicular to the surface at the point of incidence.
• How should the refracted ray be drawn when light enters a more dense medium?

  It should be drawn bending towards the normal.
• What do we call the ray that emerges from the glass after refraction?

  The emergent ray.
• What must be added to a ray diagram to complete it?

  The angle of incidence and the angle of 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?

  The frequency of the wave.
• What happens to the wavelength of a wave if its speed 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, spreading out like a rainbow.
• What are the key concepts related to the refraction of light waves?

  • Refraction occurs when light waves change direction between mediums.
  • Waves travel at different speeds in different materials due to density.
  • Higher density results in slower wave speed.
  • Light bends towards the normal when entering a denser medium.
  • The frequency of light remains constant while the wavelength changes.
  • Different wavelengths of light are refracted by different amounts.