If the speeds of two media are identical, which statement is true?

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Multiple Choice

If the speeds of two media are identical, which statement is true?

Explanation:
The main idea is that refraction depends on a change in wave speed across a boundary. If the speeds in the two media are identical, there’s no bending of the path at the boundary—the wave continues straight through. This follows from the Snell-like relation for waves: sin(angle in) divided by speed in the first medium equals sin(angle out) divided by speed in the second. If the speeds are the same, sin(angle in) must equal sin(angle out), so the angles are the same and the ray goes straight ahead. That’s why no refraction occurs and the incident and transmitted angles are equal. So the statement that there is no refraction, the angles are equal, and the sound travels straight ahead is the correct description. The other options imply a change in direction, which would require a difference in speeds between the media.

The main idea is that refraction depends on a change in wave speed across a boundary. If the speeds in the two media are identical, there’s no bending of the path at the boundary—the wave continues straight through.

This follows from the Snell-like relation for waves: sin(angle in) divided by speed in the first medium equals sin(angle out) divided by speed in the second. If the speeds are the same, sin(angle in) must equal sin(angle out), so the angles are the same and the ray goes straight ahead. That’s why no refraction occurs and the incident and transmitted angles are equal.

So the statement that there is no refraction, the angles are equal, and the sound travels straight ahead is the correct description. The other options imply a change in direction, which would require a difference in speeds between the media.

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