Refraction is the bending of waves when they enter a medium where their speed is different.
Noun. 1. refraction-the change in direction of a propagating wave (light or sound) when passing from one medium to another. physical phenomenon-a natural phenomenon involving the physical properties of matter and energy. birefringence, double refraction-splitting a ray into two parallel rays polarized perpendicularly. 1. the change of direction of a ray of light, sound, heat, or the like, in passing obliquely from one medium into another in which its wave velocity is different. 2. a. the ability of the eye to refract light that enters it so as to form an image on the retina. b. the determining of the refractive condition of the eye. Refraction of Sound. Refraction is the bending of waves when they enter a medium where their speed is different. Refraction is not so important a phenomenon with sound as it is with light where it is responsible for image formation by lenses, the eye, cameras, etc.  Refraction is the change in direction of propagation of a wave due to a change in its transmission medium.  Refraction of Sound Waves. Refraction of waves involves a change in the direction of waves as they pass from one medium to another. Refraction, or bending of the path of the waves, is accompanied by a change in speed and wavelength of the waves. So if the media (or its properties) are changed, the speed of the wave is changed. Refraction is the change in direction of a wave, caused by the change in the wave's speed. Examples of waves include sound waves and light waves. Refraction is seen most often when a wave passes from one medium to a different medium. Different types of medium include air and water. When a wave passes from one medium to another medium, the wave will change its speed and its direction Figure 1. (a) Paths of sound rays when temperature decreases with altitude, (b) paths of sound rays when temperature increases with altitude. The refraction of sound in the atmosphere is due to spatial variations in the air temperature, wind speed, and wind direction. The temperature usually decreases with altitude up to an altitude of 15–20 km When sound changes mediums (enters a different material) at an angle other that 90 degrees, it is bent from its original direction. This change in angle of direction is called refraction. Because of the angle, part of the wave enters the new medium first and changes speed. The difference in speeds causes the wave to bend. The velocity of sound in each material is determined by the material properties (elastic modulus and density) for that material. 1 Trends. ( 2 physics) the change in direction of a propagating wave, such as light or sound, in passing from one medium to another in which it has a different velocity. 3  the amount by which a wave is refracted. 4  the ability of the eye to refract light. 5  the determination of the refractive condition of the eye. noun. ( 1 physics) the change in direction of a propagating wave, such as light or sound, in passing from one medium to another in which it has a different velocity. 2  the amount by which a wave is refracted. 3  the ability of the eye to refract light. 4 1 (physics) the change in direction of a propagating wave, such as light or sound, in passing from one medium to another in which it has a different velocity. 2  the amount by which a wave is refracted. 3  the ability of the eye to refract light. noun. ( 1 physics) the change in direction of a propagating wave, such as light or sound, in passing from one medium to another in which it has a different velocity. 2  the amount by which a wave is refracted. 3  the ability of the eye to refract light. 4  the determination of the refractive condition of the eye
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/refraction http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Sound/refrac.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refraction http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/sound/Lesson-3/Reflection,-Refraction,-and-Diffraction https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refraction http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Refraction+of+Sound https://www.nde-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Sound/refraction.htm http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/refraction http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/refraction
refraction definition sound