What types of waves can be refracted? Under what circumstances does refraction occur?
When a wave travels from one medium to another in which the refractive index is different. Air to glass, for example, or glass to air. air to water or water to air.
There are various types of waves that can be refracted, including light waves, sound waves, and water waves. Refraction occurs when a wave passes from one medium to another medium with a different refractive index.
Refraction happens due to a change in the speed of the wave as it crosses the boundary between the two mediums. The refractive index is a measure of how much the speed of a wave changes when it enters a different medium. When a wave encounters a change in refractive index, it bends or changes direction, resulting in refraction.
For example, when light waves pass from air to a different medium like glass or water, the speed of the waves changes, causing them to bend. This bending is why objects appear distorted when viewed through a glass of water, for instance. Similarly, sound waves can be refracted when they travel from one medium to another with a different refractive index, affecting how we hear sound in different environments.
In summary, refraction occurs when a wave passes from one medium to another with a different refractive index, causing the wave to change direction or bend. The specific types of waves that can be refracted include light waves, sound waves, and water waves.