| BETA : Waves : Refraction 01 : Wave Refraction : Beta Physics Homework Game
Description : Wave refraction.
Discussion : Waves passing at and angle between two different mediums having different wave speeds are refracted or bent. For light waves the refaction is related to the refractive index of the materials. The same effect is also produced in sound waves and water waves. The critical incident angle applies to the case where the refractive index of the refacting medium is less than the refractive index of the incident medium (eg water to air). The critical incident angle occurs when the refracted wave is parallel to the surface. If the incident angle is greater than the critical angle no waves are transmitted across the boundary. See Figure Wave Refraction .
The game has 3 sets of questions with 4 questions per set.
lamdar, vr, thetar, thetac
vi, ni, lamdai, thetac
ni, vi, lamdai, thetai
The basic equations are :
lamdar = lamdai ni / nr
vr = vi ni / nr
thetar = asind(ni / nr sind(thetai))
thetac = asind(nr / ni)
rearranging
vi = vr sind(thetai) / sind(thetar)
ni = nr Vr / vi
lamdai = lamdar vi / vr
ni = nr / sind(thetac)
thetai = asind(sind(thetar) vi / vr)
where
lamdai lamdar = incident and refracted wave length (λi λr)
ni nr = incident and refracted refractive index
vi vr = incident and refracted wave velocity
thetai thetar = incident and refracted wave angle (θi θr)
thetac = critical incident wave angle (θc)
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