refraction of waves

Refraction

When light waves change direction at the boundary between two transparent materials

Incident ray

The incoming ray that hits the boundary between the two materials

Angle of incidence

The angle between the incident ray and the normal line

Refracted ray

The ray that changes direction after passing through the boundary between the two materials

Angle of refraction

The angle between the refracted ray and the normal line

Effect of density on the speed of a wave

The denser the transparent material, the more slowly the wave travels through it

What happens to speed when light enters a more dense material

The light ray slows down and bends towards the normal line

What happens to speed when light enters a less dense material

The light ray speeds up and bends away from normal line

Effect of density on the wavelength of a wave

The denser the transparent material, the more slowly the wave travels through it so the wavelength decreases

Effect of density on the frequency of a wave

The frequency of a wave is unaffected