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Explaining Refraction

The speed of light is different in each substance.The amount of refraction depends on the relative speeds of light in the medium.
sin i
sin r		=c
cs
from air (or a vacuum) to a substance.
The frequency does not change when refraction occurs.The wavelength and speed changes.
ns=c
cs		=λ
λs
The waves travel more slowly in a denser medium or in shallow water.

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Specification: AQA Physics (7407), AS-level, 3.3.2.3 Refraction at a plane surface. Topic: Optics.

Key terms in this lesson

Vector quantity
A physical quantity that has both magnitude and direction.

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