Refraction Relationships

Whenever there is refraction, it is always accompanied by _________

ref and reflect

A wave entering a slower medium

Is this refraction? Angle of incidence?

No. The wave is changing speed but not bending.

a) Which wave characteristic changes? stays the same?

b) How many times faster is the blue medium than yellow medium?

a) wavelength decreases in blue medium

b) frequency is the same

c) Blue medium is twice as fast

b. n and V

n₁v₁ = n₂v₂

1 – incident medium
2 – refractive medium

Name all the ways these waves are different.

What characteric(s) do the waves have in common?

Show Me The Physics

Direction, Velocity, Wavelength are different

Frequency is the same

Waves, Refraction, Velocity, Wavelength

Slow to Fast Medium

When a light changes media, its wavelength changes NOT its frequency

c. n, λ

n₂λ₂ = n₁λ₁

When light refracts it BENDS, CHANGES SPEED and WAVELENGTH

Which medium is faster?

Top medium, has larger wavelength

Refraction and Wavelength
Don Ion

Why No Refraction?

Angle of incidence = 0

Ex) What is the angle of incidence?, angle of refraction?

0 degrees, 0 degrees

What's wrong with this picture?

Lower left ray is not possible

What is the angle of incidence and the angle of refraction?

June 2016

Enrichment

Using pins to trace the path of light
from air into glass and back into air

NOVA (PBS) explains how refraction makes diamonds sparkle