Refraction

Question 1

What is refraction

Answer 1

• When a wave changes direction as it passes from one medium to another due to a change in speed

Question 2

What is the connection between the density of the material and the wave speed

Answer 2

• Waves travel at different speeds in different mediums
• The denser the material, the slower the wave

Question 3

What is the emergent ray

Answer 3

• The ray emerging out of the medium after refraction

Question 4

What changes along with wave speed

Answer 4

• As the wave speed changes in different mediums, we know that the wavelength also changes
• Wave speed = frequency X wavelength
• Frequency never changes
• An increase in wave speed means an increase in wavelength

Question 5

What happens if we pass white light through a triangular prism

Answer 5

• White light is made up of all different coloured lights
• Different coloured lights have different wavelengths
• Different wavelengths means different wave speeds
• This means that different coloured lights will refract in different angles
• All of the different coloured lights will be split up