Here's how it works:
1. Change in Speed: When a wave transitions from one medium to another, its speed may change. This is because different media have different densities and elastic properties, which affect how quickly a wave can propagate through them.
2. Change in Direction: As a consequence of the change in speed, the wave's direction also changes. This is because the wavefronts (surfaces of constant phase) tend to bend or refract toward the medium in which they travel slower.
The extent of refraction depends on the specific properties of the media involved and the angle at which the wave strikes the boundary between them. These factors are quantified by Snell's law, which mathematically describes the relationship between the incident and refracted angles of a wave.
In summary, refraction always involves a change in both the speed and direction of the wave as it transitions from one medium to another.
