Refraction & Speed (Edexcel GCSE Physics)

Refraction & Speed

Higher Tier Only

• When a wave hits a different medium the different parts of the wave enter the medium at different times

  • Hence, this leads to a change in speed

• The difference in speed between the parts of the wave in the first medium and the parts in the second medium causes the wave to bend

  • Hence, this leads to a change in direction

• Refraction can be represented using wavefront diagrams, as shown below:

The different parts of the wave enter the second medium at different times causing the wave to bend