Which term refers to bending or changing direction in general?

Which term refers to bending or changing direction in general?

• A. Reflect
• B. Refract
• C. Scatter
• D. Solar

Answer: (B)

Bending or changing direction of a wave as it passes into a different medium is refraction. This happens because the wave changes speed when it enters a new medium, causing its path to tilt toward or away from the boundary depending on whether it slows down or speeds up. For light, entering a denser medium slows it and bends it toward the normal; entering a less dense medium speeds it up and bends it away. Reflect describes bouncing off a surface, not a change in direction due to a speed change. Scatter means light or waves are dispersed in many directions after hitting a rough surface or particles, not a single, deliberate change in direction. Solar is unrelated to the phenomenon of bending waves.

Bending or changing direction of a wave as it passes into a different medium is refraction. This happens because the wave changes speed when it enters a new medium, causing its path to tilt toward or away from the boundary depending on whether it slows down or speeds up. For light, entering a denser medium slows it and bends it toward the normal; entering a less dense medium speeds it up and bends it away.

Reflect describes bouncing off a surface, not a change in direction due to a speed change. Scatter means light or waves are dispersed in many directions after hitting a rough surface or particles, not a single, deliberate change in direction. Solar is unrelated to the phenomenon of bending waves.