v1 = velocity of wave in material 1

v2 = velocity of wave in material 2

Critical angle and total internal reflection

The wave formula v = f Refractive index When light travels from a material with a higher refractive index to one with a lower
refractive index (eg from glass to air), it is possible for the angle of refraction to be
velocity (ms-1) Consider a wave passing from material 1 to material 2. In material 1 its angle to 90o.
wavelength (m) the normal is 1 and in material 2 it is 2.
f = frequency (Hz) This incident angle is critical angle

b) Longitudinal – here the disturbance is in the same direction, parallel to the If the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle, then the ray cannot
direction of the waves. Examples include sound and seismic P waves Wave properties material 1 This constant is the refractive index of material 2 with respect to material 1 be refracted – instead it is totally internally reflected
Refraction:
All waves will undergo the following processes according to the same laws:
Refraction is the change in direction of a wave as it crosses the boundary
reflection, refraction,interference, diffraction
between two materials (eg air and water).
Reflection and its laws material 2
TYPES OF waves: There are two laws of reflection. They apply to both plane (flat) and curved
This constant is the refractive index of material 1 with respect to material 2
Waves may be mechanical (i.e. they require a medium such as air or water to mirrors (or other reflecting surface for waves other than light).
propagate) or electromagnetic (which propagate in a vacuum) Waves can be 1) the incident ray and reflected ray lie in a
classified as: single plane which is perpendicular to the
Wave pulses and continuous waves A wave pulse involves a short or single surface
a) Transverse – here the disturbance is at right angles to the direction of the disturbance of the medium it is travelling in. For example, dropping an object in 2) at the point of incidence angle of
wave. Examples include water waves and light (electromagnetic). water may produce a wave pulse. Continuous waves involve repeated incidence (i) is equal to angle of reflection (r)
crest disturbances of the medium. For example, to produce continuous waves in a
ripple tank, the dipper would have to be dipped into the tank at regular
intervals.
State the effect of the refraction on the frequency [1] none – it is unchanged

amplitude

trough
wavelength