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
