19,916
edits
Changes
no edit summary
: [[Refracted Ray]] - Once the [[Light Ray|ray]] passes the boundary it is called a [[Refracted Ray|refracted ray]].
: [[Normal Line|Normal]] - The [[Normal Line|normal line]] is an imaginary line drawn at [[Right Angle|right angles]] to the boundary between two [[Medium|media]].
: [[Angle of Incidence]] - The [[angle]] between the [[Incident Ray]] and the [[Normal Line|Normal]] is called the [[Angle of Incidence|angle of incidence]].
: [[Angle of Refraction]] - The [[angle]] between the [[Refracted Ray]] and the [[Normal Line|Normal]] is called the [[Angle of Refraction|angle of refraction]].
: [[Emergent Ray]] - When a [[Light Ray|ray]] enters and then leaves a new [[medium]] the [[Light Ray|ray]] that leaves is called an [[Emergent Ray|emergent ray]].
==Key Stage 4==
===Meaning===
[[Refraction]] is when a [[wave]] changes direction as it crosses the [[interface]] between two [[medium|media]].
===About Refraction===
: [[Wave]]s 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 [[Wave Speed|speed]] as it crosses an [[interface]] from one [[medium]] into another.
: When a [[wave]] '''refracts''' the [[frequency]] remains constant but the [[wavelength]] and [[Wave Speed|wave speed]] change.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|[[File:RefractionSpeed.png|center|400px]]
|-
| style="height:20px; width:200px; text-align:center;" |This [[diagram]] shows the [[wavefront]]s 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.
|}
===Refraction of Light===
: When [[light]] crosses the [[interface]] between two [[transparent]] [[medium|media]] it is '''refracted'''.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|[[File:LightRefraction1.png|center|300px]]
|[[File:LightRefraction2.png|center|300px]]
|-
| style="height:20px; width:200px; text-align:center;" |When a [[Light Ray|ray of light]] moves from [[air]] into [[water]] the [[Light Ray|ray]] is '''refracted''' towards the [[normal]].
| style="height:20px; width:200px; text-align:center;" |When a [[Light Ray|ray of light]] moves from [[water]] into [[air]] the [[Light Ray|ray]] is '''refracted''' away from the [[normal]].
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|[[File:RefractionGlassBlock.png|center|600px]]
|-
| style="height:20px; width:200px; text-align:center;" |When a [[Light Ray|ray of light]] moves from [[air]] into [[glass]] the [[Light Ray|ray]] is '''refracted''' towards the [[normal]] and when it moves from [[glass]] into [[air]] the [[Light Ray|ray]] is '''refracted''' away from the [[normal]]
|}
: [[Incident Ray]] - A [[Light Ray|ray]] is called an [[Incident Ray|incident ray]] before it reaches the [[interface]] between two [[Medium|media]].
: [[Refracted Ray]] - Once the [[Light Ray|ray]] passes the [[interface]] it is called a [[Refracted Ray|refracted ray]].
: [[Normal Line|Normal]] - The [[Normal Line|normal line]] is an imaginary line drawn at [[Right Angle|right angles]] to the [[interface]] between two [[Medium|media]].
: [[Angle of Incidence]] - The [[angle]] between the [[Incident Ray]] and the [[Normal Line|Normal]] is called the [[Angle of Incidence|angle of incidence]].
: [[Angle of Refraction]] - The [[angle]] between the [[Refracted Ray]] and the [[Normal Line|Normal]] is called the [[Angle of Refraction|angle of refraction]].
: [[Emergent Ray]] - When a [[Light Ray|ray]] enters and then leaves a new [[medium]] the [[Light Ray|ray]] that leaves is called an [[Emergent Ray|emergent ray]].