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Refraction

Refraction occurs when waves pass across a boundary.If the incident wave is at an angle to the boundary the wave changes direction as the speed of the wave changes.If the speed changes, then the wavelength must also change since the frequency is constant and is the frequency at which the source generates the disturbances.When waves move from deep to shallow water they move more slowly in shallow water.The wavelength is smaller and the waves change direction if at an angle.
Refraction of LightLight waves travel more slowly in a denser medium.

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Specification: AQA Physics (7407), AS-level, 3.3.1.2 Longitudinal and transverse waves and 3.3.1.1 Progressive waves. Topic: Waves.

Key terms in this lesson

Dispersion
The splitting of white light into its constituent colours because different wavelengths are refracted by different amounts.

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