Refraction & Speed Flashcards
All 4 cards in this deck
Which property of a wave stays the same when it is refracted?
The frequency, because it is set by the source.
What happens to the wavelength of a wave when it slows down on entering a new material?
The wavelength decreases, because frequency is unchanged and .
What makes a wavefront change direction when it meets a slower material at an angle?
One end of the wavefront enters and slows down before the other end, so the wavefront swings round.
True or false? A wave can be refracted without its speed changing.
False. Refraction is caused by the change in speed at the boundary.