refraction
/rɪˈfrakʃ(ə)n
/noun [mass noun] Physics
1The fact or phenomenon of light, radio waves, etc. being deflected in passing obliquely through the interface between one medium and another or through a medium of varying density.The disagreement concerns one of the most fundamental and best-known phenomena in optics - refraction....
- Central to the concept of a perfect lens is the phenomenon called refraction, which occurs when electromagnetic waves, including light, bend slightly when passing from one material into another.
- Although it has long been known that a rainbow is produced by the dispersion of white light through rain droplets via refraction, there is far more to this optical phenomenon than first meets the eye.
1.1Change in direction of propagation of any wave as a result of its travelling at different speeds at different points along the wave front.But perhaps the most immediately accessible phenomenon from an experimental or computational point of view is the reversal of wave refraction, illustrated in figure 2....
- He produced several other papers on light, the most important being in 1839 when he applied methods used by Green to study reflection and refraction of waves at a surface.
- Because of the effect of wave refraction, the plan shape of crenulated coasts can attain an equilibrium state.
1.2Measurement of the focusing characteristics of an eye or eyes.
Origin
Mid 17th century: from late Latin refractio(n-), from refringere 'break up' (see refract).