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?

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

  Higher density means slower wave speed
• 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 is the normal line in the context of refraction?

  A line perpendicular to the surface
• What happens to a light ray that hits the boundary at an angle?

  It will be refracted and change direction
• How do you draw a ray diagram for light refraction through glass?

  Draw the normal and refracted rays
• What is the angle of incidence?

  The angle between the incident ray and the normal
• What happens to the speed of a wave as it passes from glass to air?

  It speeds up and bends away from the normal
• What remains constant when a wave passes from one medium to another?

  The frequency of the wave
• What changes when the speed of a wave increases?

  The wavelength must also increase
• 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 light refraction through glass?

  1. Draw the normal at the point of incidence.
  2. Draw the incident ray approaching the glass.
  3. Determine the direction of the refracted ray.
  4. Draw the refracted ray inside the glass.
  5. Repeat for the ray exiting the glass into air.
  6. Label the 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
• What is the effect of passing white light through a triangular prism?

  • White light disperses into colors
  • Different colors bend to different degrees
  • Creates a spectrum similar to a rainbow