Refraction of Waves

Refraction of Waves
1. Refraction of waves occurs when there is a change
of direction of propagation of waves travelling
from a medium to another medium due to change
of speed.
2. The refraction of water waves occurs when the
water travel from one area to another area of
different depths. Hence the different depths of
water is equivalent to the different media.
Refraction of plane water waves in a ripple
tank
1. The ripple tank is arranged as shown in figure above
2. The legs of the ripple tank are adjusted so that the
base of the tank is horizontal. The tank is filled with
water.
3. A trapezium-shaped perspex plate is placed in the
tank to create a shallow area as shown in figure

4. A horizontal vibrating bean is used to create plane

waves.
5. The speed of motor is adjusted to produce a train of
waves that can be clearly observed on the screen
with the help of the stroboscope.
6. The position of the Perspex plate is adjusted
with its edge parallel and at an angle with the
vibrating beam.
7. The trapezium-shape Perspex plate is replaced
with the convex-shaped Perspex plate and then
with the concave-shaped Perspex plate.
Observation:
 Discussion:

1. When water waves travel from a deep area to shallow area

as figure above, the direction of the water is refracted
towards the normal.
2. Therefore, the angle of incidence, i of the water waves is
greater than the angle of refraction, r.
3. When water waves travel from an area into another of
different depths, their speed vary. The frequency of the
waves which equal to the frequency of the motor remains
unchanged.
 Refraction of Sound Waves

1. The C.R.O. setting are adjusted to detect the sound

waves emitted from the loudspeaker.
2. The position of the microphone is adjusted by moving it
nearer to the balloon or further away from it until the
biggest amplitude of the waves is displayed on the
screen.
3. The balloon is removed as shown in figure above and the amplitude
of the trace displayed on the screen is observed and compared
with that observed in step.
Discussion:
1. When the screen of the C.R.O. displays a trace of
bigger amplitude for a sound wave, it indicates a
louder sound is detected.
2. This shows that the balloon which is filled with the
carbon dioxide has focused the sound waves
emitted from the loudspeaker to the microphone.
3. From the observation, the sound waves that travel
through ordinary atmospheric air (less dense
medium) to carbon dioxide (denser medium)
undergo refraction.
 Characteristics of Refraction of Waves
• When waves propagate from a less dense medium
to a denser medium, the angle of incidence, i is
greater than the angle of refraction, r.
• The wavelength, λ of the refracted waves in the
denser medium(shallower region) is shorter.
• The frequency, f of the waves remains unchanged.
• The wave speed, v in the denser medium is smaller
than that in the less dense medium.
• The direction of the incident and refracted waves
are different.
SPM Question
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