Waves undergo refraction when they change direction as they pass from one medium into another, or when the properties of the medium change. This phenomenon is commonly observed in light, sound, and water waves. Based on the provided reference, two specific examples illustrate wave refraction in different contexts.
Key Examples of Wave Refraction
The reference highlights the following two distinct examples of wave refraction:
- Earthquake P-waves bending as they reach the inner core. As seismic P-waves travel through the Earth, their speed changes depending on the material they are passing through. When these waves encounter the boundary between the liquid outer core and the solid inner core, the significant change in material properties causes them to refract (bend). This refraction provides crucial information about the Earth's internal structure.
- Ocean waves refracting when the depth of water changes suddenly. As ocean waves approach a coastline or encounter changes in seabed topography (like moving from deep water to shallow water), their speed and wavelength change. This change causes the wave crests to bend and align more parallel to the shoreline, a classic example of refraction influencing wave patterns near landmasses.
These examples demonstrate how different types of waves — seismic and water — exhibit refraction when encountering changes in the medium they travel through, leading to a change in their direction of propagation.
