1.3 Refraction

Question 1

What happens when a wave is ‘transmitted’?

Answer 1

Waves travel at different speeds in different materials, so when a wave crosses a boundary between materials it changes speed, this often leads to refraction

Question 2

If the density of the medium is higher, what will happen to the wave?

Answer 2

It will slow down

Question 3

If the wave hits a medium that’s more dense, the wave will refract _________ the normal

Answer 3

Towards

Question 4

The frequency of a wave stays the same however the speed changes, subsequently making the wavelength change. If the wavelength decreases, does the wave slow down or speed up?

Answer 4

Slow down

Question 5

Different wavelengths are refracted by different amounts so when a white light hits a triangular prism, what happens?

Answer 5

The different colours in the white light bend to different degrees as each wave contains different wavelengths.

Question 6

What colours are in white light?

Answer 6

ROYGBIV
- Red
- Orange
- Yellow
- Green
- Blue
- Indigo
- Violet