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
• How does the density of a medium affect the speed of electromagnetic waves like light?

  The higher the density, the slower the wave travels
• What occurs when a wave travels perpendicular to the boundary between two materials?

  It continues straight without bending
• What happens to light waves when they hit a boundary at an angle while entering a more dense medium?

  They bend towards the normal
• What is the dashed line perpendicular to the surface called?

  Normal
• How do you draw a proper ray diagram for refraction?

  Draw the normal and indicate ray directions
• What should you consider when drawing the refracted ray in a ray diagram?

  It bends towards the normal in denser media
• What do you call the ray that emerges from the glass into the air?

  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 visual effect occurs when white light passes through a triangular prism?

  It spreads out like a rainbow
• What are the steps to draw a ray diagram for light refraction through glass?

  1. Draw the normal at the point of incidence.
  2. Indicate the incident ray direction.
  3. Draw the refracted ray bending towards the normal.
  4. Continue the refracted ray to the other side.
  5. Draw the normal at the exit point.
  6. Indicate the emergent ray bending away from the normal.
  7. Label angles of incidence and refraction.