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Refraction occurs when a wave bends as it crosses the boundary between different mediums (eg. air to glass). The wave bends because waves travel at different speeds in different mediums.

When a wave enters a more dense medium (eg. air to glass), the wave slows down, and bends towards the 'normal'.

When a wave enters a less dense medium (eg. glass to air), the wave speeds up, and bends away from the 'normal'.

* The normal is an imaginary line which is perpendicular to where the light is entering the new medium.

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When will the refraction happen?

Refraction occurs when a wave changes speed as it moves from one medium to another, causing it to bend. This happens instantly at the boundary between the two mediums.


Does the frequency change when a refraction occurs?

No, the frequency of a wave does not change when refraction occurs. Refraction only affects the speed and direction of the wave as it travels through different mediums, but the frequency remains constant.


What is the difference between reflection and refraction in the context of light?

Reflection occurs when light bounces off a surface, changing direction but not entering the material. Refraction happens when light passes through a material and changes speed, causing it to bend.


How can the direction of light be changed?

The direction of light can be changed through reflection, refraction, or diffraction. Reflection occurs when light bounces off a surface, changing its direction. Refraction happens when light passes through a medium with a different optical density, causing it to bend. Diffraction occurs when light encounters an obstacle or aperture, causing it to spread out and change direction.


What happens when a light ray moves from one substance to another?

When a light ray moves from one substance to another, it can undergo refraction, reflection, or absorption. Refraction occurs when the light ray changes speed and direction as it enters a new medium. Reflection happens when the light ray bounces off the surface between the two substances. Absorption occurs when the light ray is absorbed by the new medium.

Related Questions

What happens if the refraction angle is greater than ninety degrees?

This means no refraction occurs i.e. Total internal reflection (all light reflected) occurs


When will the refraction happen?

Refraction occurs when a wave changes speed as it moves from one medium to another, causing it to bend. This happens instantly at the boundary between the two mediums.


Does the frequency change when a refraction occurs?

No, the frequency of a wave does not change when refraction occurs. Refraction only affects the speed and direction of the wave as it travels through different mediums, but the frequency remains constant.


What is the difference between reflection and refraction in the context of light?

Reflection occurs when light bounces off a surface, changing direction but not entering the material. Refraction happens when light passes through a material and changes speed, causing it to bend.


If the angle of incidence increases and the indexes of refraction stay the same what happens to the angle of refraction?

The angle if refraction also increases.


Why there is no refraction occurs when the light ray is perpendicular to the surface?

Refraction occurs when light travels from one medium to another and changes speed, which happens at an angle. When a light ray strikes a surface perpendicularly (at a 90-degree angle), it does not change direction; it simply continues in a straight line. Since the angle of incidence is zero, the light's speed does not change in the context of entering the second medium, resulting in no observable refraction.


How can the direction of light be changed?

The direction of light can be changed through reflection, refraction, or diffraction. Reflection occurs when light bounces off a surface, changing its direction. Refraction happens when light passes through a medium with a different optical density, causing it to bend. Diffraction occurs when light encounters an obstacle or aperture, causing it to spread out and change direction.


What is the angle or refraction when the angle of incidence is 40degrees?

That depends on the substances where the refraction occurs. The relationship between the angles, and the index of refraction of both materials, is given by Snell's Law.


What happens when a light ray travels at right angles into a transparent object?

When light travels at right angles into a transparent object (i.e. angle of incidence is zero), no refraction occurs.


What happens when a light ray moves from one substance to another?

When a light ray moves from one substance to another, it can undergo refraction, reflection, or absorption. Refraction occurs when the light ray changes speed and direction as it enters a new medium. Reflection happens when the light ray bounces off the surface between the two substances. Absorption occurs when the light ray is absorbed by the new medium.


The bending of waves due to a change in speed is?

It is Refraction


Reflection happens in concave mirrors?

in concave and convex mirrors refraction happens