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This is not exactly easy to understand. It can be explained by the fact that waves move slower in certain media - combined with the Huygens-Fresnel principle.

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Waves bend or refract when they pass from one medium to another with a different density, such as from air to water. This change in density causes the wave to change speed and therefore direction. The bending occurs because one side of the wavefront is moving faster than the other.

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9mo ago
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Q: What causes waves to refract or bend?
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Continue Learning about Physics

What happens to the path of waves when they travel from air to water?

When waves travel from air to water, they change direction and speed due to the difference in density between the two mediums. This causes the waves to bend or refract as they enter the water.


Where do the light waves coming from the pencil change speed?

The light waves coming from the pencil change speed when they move from air (faster speed) to the glass or water (slower speed). This change in speed causes the light waves to refract or bend.


How can sound refract in different mediums?

Sound can refract in different mediums due to changes in the speed of sound waves as they travel from one medium to another. When sound waves enter a new medium at an angle, they can change direction and bend, causing the sound to refract. This bending occurs because sound waves travel at different speeds in different mediums, which causes them to change direction as they move from one medium to another.


What direction do waves changes?

Waves change direction when they encounter a change in medium or boundary that causes them to refract or reflect. Refraction occurs when waves change speed as they move from one medium to another, causing them to bend. Reflection occurs when waves bounce off a boundary, changing direction.


What occurs when waves approach a headland and bend around it?

As waves approach a headland, they refract or bend around it due to a change in water depth. This causes the side of the headland facing the waves to experience erosion, while the side sheltered from the waves may experience deposition. Over time, this process can result in the formation of distinctive coastal features like sea caves and arches.