Concept explainers
When a wave crosses a surface at an angle from one medium into another, why does it change directions as it moves across the boundary into the new medium?
To Explain:The reason for changing the direction of the wave when it travels from one medium to another.
Explanation of Solution
Introduction:
When the light travels from one medium to other, the wave changes its direction.
The change in the direction of a wave when it crosses the boundary is known as refraction. The refraction is accomplished as the speed and the wavelength for the wave is different in a different medium, this changes the direction of the wave as it crosses the boundary. The medium may be rare or dense. If the wave crosses from rare to denser it deviates towards the normal and if the wave crosses from denser to rarer, the wave bends away from the normal.
Conclusion:
The refraction is accomplished by the change of speed and wavelength of the wave.
Chapter 29 Solutions
Conceptual Physics: The High School Physics Program
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