* Refraction: The wave bends as it enters the new medium. The amount of bending depends on the angle of incidence (the angle at which the wave hits the boundary) and the change in speed between the two media.
* Change in Wavelength: The wavelength of the wave changes proportionally to the change in speed. If the speed increases, the wavelength becomes longer. If the speed decreases, the wavelength becomes shorter.
* Frequency Remains Constant: The frequency of the wave (the number of waves passing a point per second) remains constant. This is because the frequency is determined by the source of the wave, not the medium it travels through.
Here's a simple analogy:
Imagine a car driving from a smooth road onto a bumpy gravel road. The car slows down because of the bumps. The distance between the bumps (wavelength) is shorter than the distance between the smooth road's surface, but the number of bumps the car hits per second (frequency) remains the same.
Examples:
* Light passing from air to water: Light slows down when it enters water, causing it to bend towards the normal (the line perpendicular to the surface).
* Sound passing from air to a solid: Sound travels much faster in solids than in air, so it speeds up when entering the solid. This is why you can hear a sound more clearly when you put your ear to a solid object.
Important Note:
* The change in speed is governed by the index of refraction of the medium. This is a measure of how much the speed of light changes when it enters that medium.
* This effect is not limited to light waves. It applies to all types of waves, including sound waves, water waves, and seismic waves.
