Refraction of waves: Waves: Physics: GCSE (9:1)

• Refraction

  When light waves change direction at the boundary between two transparent materials

  
• Incident ray


  The incoming ray that hits the boundary between the two materials

  
• Angle of incidence


  The angle between the incident ray and the normal line

  
• Refracted ray

  The ray that changes direction after passing through the boundary between the two materials

  
• Angle of refraction


  The angle between the refracted ray and the normal line

  
• (higher-tier only)

  Effect of density on the speed of a wave

  The denser the transparent material, the more slowly the wave travels through it
• (higher-tier only)

  What happens to speed when light enters a more dense material

  The light ray slows down and bends towards the normal line

  
• (higher-tier only)

  What happens to speed when light enters a less dense material

  The light ray speeds up and bends away from normal line

  
• (higher-tier only)

  Effect of density on the wavelength of a wave

  The denser the transparent material, the more slowly the wave travels through it so the wavelength decreases

  
• (higher-tier only)

  Effect of density on the frequency of a wave

  The frequency of a wave is unaffected