Refraction
[rɪ'frækʃ(ə)n] or [rɪ'frækʃən]
Definition
(noun.) the change in direction of a propagating wave (light or sound) when passing from one medium to another.
Checked by Abby--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) The act of refracting, or the state of being refracted.
(n.) The change in the direction of ray of light, heat, or the like, when it enters obliquely a medium of a different density from that through which it has previously moved.
(n.) The change in the direction of a ray of light, and, consequently, in the apparent position of a heavenly body from which it emanates, arising from its passage through the earth's atmosphere; -- hence distinguished as atmospheric refraction, or astronomical refraction.
(n.) The correction which is to be deducted from the apparent altitude of a heavenly body on account of atmospheric refraction, in order to obtain the true altitude.
Checker: Mario
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. Deflection (of rays), deviation.
Checker: Velma
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Disradiation, obliquity
ANT:Incidence, rectilinearity, nonrefraction
Typed by Jared
Examples
- When a ray of light passes from water or glass into air, the refracted ray is bent away from the perpendicular so that the angle of refraction is greater than the angle of incidence. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- The bending or deviation of light in its passage from one substance to another is called refraction. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- Refraction is the source of many illusions; bent rays of light make objects appear where they really are not. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- The angle _POS_ is called the angle of refraction. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- How refraction accomplishes these results will be explained in the following Sections. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- This change in the direction of the light rays is called refraction. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- The angle of refraction is the angle formed by the refracted ray and the perpendicular to the surface at the point where the light strikes it. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- When light passes from air into water or glass, the refracted ray is bent toward the perpendicular, so that the angle of refraction is smaller than the angle of incidence. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- They, too, found that many substances had each its own peculiar effect in the refraction and dispersion of light, and introduced no fewer than twenty-eight new substances in glass making. William Henry Doolittle. Inventions in the Century.
- The deception is due to refraction, and the material and shape of the bottle furnish a sufficient explanation. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- Glass, water and other solids and fluids each have different powers of refraction. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- The point where _AC_ and _AO_ meet after refraction will be the position of the top of the arrow. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- By refraction the magnifying glass reveals objects hidden because of their minuteness, and enlarges for our careful contemplation objects otherwise barely visible. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- It is these tiny drops which by their refraction and their scattering of light produce the rainbow in the heavens. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
Checker: Percy