Which term describes the bending of a wave as it passes at an angle from one medium to another?

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Multiple Choice

Which term describes the bending of a wave as it passes at an angle from one medium to another?

Explanation:
When a wave crosses from one medium into another at an angle, its speed changes because the two media support different speeds for the wave. This change in speed causes the wavefront to tilt as it enters the new medium, so the direction of the wave bends. That bending is refraction. For light, if the second medium slows the light down, the ray bends toward the normal to the boundary; if the second medium speeds it up, it bends away from the normal. The relationship between the incident and refracted angles is described by Snell’s law, n1 sin(theta1) = n2 sin(theta2). This is what makes a straw look bent when you place it in water, for example. Other terms describe different effects: dispersion is the separation of colors due to wavelength-dependent speeds, reflection is the wave bouncing off the boundary, and absorption is the wave’s energy being taken up by the medium.

When a wave crosses from one medium into another at an angle, its speed changes because the two media support different speeds for the wave. This change in speed causes the wavefront to tilt as it enters the new medium, so the direction of the wave bends. That bending is refraction. For light, if the second medium slows the light down, the ray bends toward the normal to the boundary; if the second medium speeds it up, it bends away from the normal. The relationship between the incident and refracted angles is described by Snell’s law, n1 sin(theta1) = n2 sin(theta2). This is what makes a straw look bent when you place it in water, for example. Other terms describe different effects: dispersion is the separation of colors due to wavelength-dependent speeds, reflection is the wave bouncing off the boundary, and absorption is the wave’s energy being taken up by the medium.

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