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Describe how light and sound waves are affected when they move from air to water.

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Solution

When light and sound waves move from air to water, they undergo changes in speed, direction, and wavelength due to the difference in the properties of the two mediums.

  1. Speed: Both light and sound waves slow down when they move from air to water. This is because water is denser than air, which means the waves have to work harder to move through it.

  2. Direction: When light waves move from a less dense medium (air) to a denser medium (water), they bend towards the normal (a line perpendicular to the surface at the point of incidence). This phenomenon is known as refraction. Similarly, sound waves also refract when they enter water from air, but the effect is less noticeable than it is with light.

  3. Wavelength: The wavelength of both light and sound waves decreases when they move from air to water. This is a direct result of the decrease in speed.

  4. Absorption: Water absorbs more light and sound waves than air, which can cause the waves to lose energy and decrease in amplitude. This is why things look darker and sound is quieter underwater.

  5. Frequency: The frequency of light and sound waves does not change when they move from air to water. This is because frequency only depends on the source of the wave, not the medium it's traveling through.

In summary, when light and sound waves move from air to water, they slow down, change direction, decrease in wavelength, and can be absorbed more. However, their frequency remains the same.

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