noun

refraction

rih-FRAK-shun/rɪˈfrækʃn/

The bending of a wave when it enters another medium.

Refraction makes a pencil in water appear bent at the waterline.

$Pencil half immersed in clear water appears displaced at waterline through refraction.$

Etymology

reLatinback

+fractLatinto break

+ionLatinact or process

'Back' and 'break' underlie the earlier meaning 'a breaking up.' In the physical sense, this becomes a break in the direction of travel as light or waves cross between materials.

In context

Ubongo Kids English2:00

refraction happens when light travels from one medium to the other like from air to water to water to air

Refraction Of Light In Water | Ubongo Kids + Sema’s Lab | African Educational Cartoons

More examples

Refraction changes the direction of light as it enters glass.
Camera lenses use refraction to focus light.
Sound waves also undergo refraction when they enter a different material.

Forms

refraction · refractions

refract verb — To bend waves entering a different medium.

refractive adjective — Relating to the bending of waves.

Similar words

bending: Broader term covering changes in physical shapes and wave paths.
deflection: A direction change that need not involve entering another medium.