The tendency of a wave to bend as it passes from one transparent medium to another is called:
A)reflection.
B)dispersion.
C)refraction.
D)diffraction.
E)interference.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Refraction is the bending of a wave as it passes from one medium to another, due to the change in the wave's speed. This often happens when a wave passes from air to water or vice versa, and causes phenomena such as the bending of light in a glass lens. Reflection (A) is the bouncing back of a wave when it encounters a boundary between two media, dispersion (B) is the separation of light into its component colors, diffraction (D) is the bending of a wave around an obstacle or through a small opening, and interference (E) is the interaction of two or more waves when they meet. Refraction is the bending of a wave as it passes from one medium to another. This is due to a change in the wave's speed and direction, caused by the change in the medium's density or refractive index. Reflection is the bouncing back of a wave when it meets a surface, dispersion is the separation of a wave into its component frequencies, diffraction is the bending of waves around an obstacle, and interference is the combining of two or more waves to form a resultant wave.

The Tendency of a Wave to Bend as It Passes