The bending of a wave as it passes from one medium to another is called refraction. This occurs due to a change in the wave's speed as it transitions between the two mediums. Here's a breakdown:

* Speed of Light: Light travels at different speeds in different mediums. For instance, light travels faster in air than in water or glass.

* Change in Direction: When a wave enters a medium where it travels slower, its direction changes, causing it to bend. This bending occurs because one side of the wave front enters the new medium before the other, slowing down first.

* Angle of Incidence and Angle of Refraction: The angle at which the wave strikes the boundary between the two mediums (angle of incidence) and the angle at which it bends (angle of refraction) are related. This relationship is described by Snell's Law.

* Wavelength and Frequency: While the speed of light changes, its frequency remains constant. This means that the wavelength of the light wave also changes when it enters a new medium.

Example:

Imagine a wave approaching a beach at an angle. The part of the wave that touches the shallower water (slower medium) first slows down, causing the wave to bend towards the beach.

Here are some key factors that affect refraction:

* The difference in the speed of light in the two mediums: The greater the difference in speed, the greater the bending.

* The angle of incidence: The angle at which the wave hits the boundary. A wave hitting at a steeper angle will bend more.

* The type of wave: Refraction occurs for all types of waves, including light waves, sound waves, and water waves.

Refraction is a fundamental phenomenon in physics with many applications, including:

* Lenses: Used in eyeglasses, telescopes, and cameras to focus light.

* Prisms: Separate white light into its different colors due to the different refractive indices of different wavelengths.

* Fiber optics: Utilize total internal reflection, a special case of refraction, to transmit information over long distances.