5.4 Refraction Flashcards
What part of the wave changes when a wave changes substances?
- the wave speed
* the wave length
What part of a wave doesn’t change when the wave changes substances?
•the frequency
What does the change in wave speed cause when a wave enters a new medium?
A change in direction
What happens when a light wave enters a more dense substance at an angle?
It slows down, so moves towards the normal
Name a less to more dense substance change
From air to glass
What happens when a light wave enters a less dense new medium at an angle?
It speeds up so the ray moves away from the normal
What will happen if a wave is travelling along the normal and enters a new medium?
It will not change direction
Why do different coloured lights refract by slightly different amounts?
They have different wave lengths
What is dispersion?
When a ray of white light is shone onto a triangular glass prism and a spectrum of colours is produced
Which colour light is refracted the most?
Violet
What colour light is refracted the least?
Red
Why do prisms split light into rainbow colours?
They have a higher level of refraction
When do waves change speeds?
When they cross a boundary between different substances
