Key Stage 3
Meaning
Refraction is when a wave changes direction as it moves from one medium to another.
About Refraction
- Waves travel in a straight line until they reach a new medium. If the wave can travel through the new medium it will change direction. This is called refraction.
- Refraction can happen to all waves.
- Refraction is used in lenses to magnify and focus light.
Refraction of Light
- When light moves from one transparent medium to another it is refracted.
- Incident Ray - A ray is called an incident ray before it reaches the boundary between two media.
- Refracted Ray - Once the ray passes the boundary it is called a refracted ray.
- Normal - The normal line is an imaginary line drawn at right angles to the boundary between two media.
- Angle of Incidence - The angle between the Incident Ray and the Normal is called the angle of incidence.
- Angle of Refraction - The angle between the Refracted Ray and the Normal is called the angle of refraction.
- Emergent Ray - When a ray enters and then leaves a new medium the ray that leaves is called an emergent ray.
Key Stage 4
Meaning
Refraction is when a wave changes direction as it crosses the interface between two media.
About Refraction
- Waves travel in a straight line until they reach an interface with a new medium. If the wave can be transmitted through the new medium it will change direction. This is called refraction.
- Refraction is caused by a wave changing speed as it crosses an interface from one medium into another.
- Refraction can occur gradually through a medium if the properties of that medium change gradually. This is the case for seismic waves travelling through the Earth as the material gets more dense as you go deeper into the Earth. This gradually increases the speed of the waves.
- When a wave refracts the frequency remains constant but the wavelength and wave speed change.
- Refraction is used in lenses to magnify and focus light.
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| This diagram shows the wavefronts of a wave arrive at an interface where they slow down. The wave changes direction because one side of the wavefront slows before the other side.
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Refraction of Light
- When light crosses the interface between two transparent media it is refracted.
- Incident Ray - A ray is called an incident ray before it reaches the interface between two media.
- Refracted Ray - Once the ray passes the interface it is called a refracted ray.
- Normal - The normal line is an imaginary line drawn at right angles to the interface between two media.
- Angle of Incidence - The angle between the Incident Ray and the Normal is called the angle of incidence.
- Angle of Refraction - The angle between the Refracted Ray and the Normal is called the angle of refraction.
- Emergent Ray - When a ray enters and then leaves a new medium the ray that leaves is called an emergent ray.
References
AQA
- Refraction, eyes, page 155, GCSE Biology; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
- Refraction, page 184-5, GCSE Biology; Student Book, Collins, AQA
- Refraction, page 222, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Refraction, pages 178-179, 186-187, 204-205, GCSE Physics; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
- Refraction, pages 191, 202-3, 205, 208-9, 211, 214-15, 224-5, GCSE Physics; Student Book, Collins, AQA
- Refraction, pages 195-197, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Physics, CGP, AQA
- Refraction, pages 195-6, GCSE Physics, Hodder, AQA
- Refraction, pages 232-234, GCSE Physics; The Complete 9-1 Course for AQA, CGP, AQA
- Refraction, pages 263-4, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 2, Hodder, AQA
- Refraction; in lenses, page 203, GCSE Physics, Hodder, AQA
- Refraction; investigating, page 237, GCSE Physics; The Complete 9-1 Course for AQA, CGP, AQA
- Refraction; investigation of, page 198, GCSE Physics, Hodder, AQA
- Refraction; seismic waves, pages 285, 286, GCSE Physics; The Complete 9-1 Course for AQA, CGP, AQA
Edexcel
- Refraction, pages 166, 167, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Refraction, pages 34, 35, 39, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Refraction, pages 54-55, 66, 73, GCSE Physics, Pearson Edexcel
- Refraction, pages 98-102, GCSE Physics, CGP, Edexcel
- Refraction; of EM waves, page 100, GCSE Physics, CGP, Edexcel
- Refraction; total internal reflection, pages 116, 117, GCSE Physics, CGP, Edexcel
OCR
- Refraction, pages 146, 160-161, 264-265, Gateway GCSE Physics, Oxford, OCR
- Refraction, pages 190, 191, Gateway GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, OCR
- Refraction, pages 61, 63, 64, Gateway GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, OCR
