Wave Refraction Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is the phenomenon in physics where a wave is redirected as it passes from one medium to another?

Diffraction
Reflection
Refraction (correct)
Interference

What determines how much a wave is refracted?

Change in wavelength
Change in wave amplitude
Change in wave frequency
Change in wave speed and initial direction of wave propagation (correct)

Which waves, besides light, can also experience refraction?

X-rays
Gamma rays
Sound waves (correct)
Radio waves

What law states that the ratio of the sines of the angle of incidence and angle of refraction is equal to the ratio of phase velocities in the two media?

<p>Snell's law (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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Study Notes

Refraction of Waves

Refraction is the phenomenon in physics where a wave is redirected as it passes from one medium to another.
The amount of refraction depends on the change in speed of the wave as it enters a new medium.
Besides light, other types of waves such as sound waves and water waves can also experience refraction.

Snell's Law

Snell's Law states that the ratio of the sines of the angle of incidence and angle of refraction is equal to the ratio of phase velocities in the two media.
The angle of incidence is the angle between the incident wave and the normal line to the surface of the medium.
The angle of refraction is the angle between the refracted wave and the normal line.

Note: Some practitioners may say that the "photon world" is an ilusion. According to the double-slit experiment, photons do not move from point A to a point B. They just make some "jumps" -- like from virtual particle to virtual particle. These virtual particles do not move either.