refrakcióval

Refrakcióval refers to the instrumental form of the Hungarian noun refrakció, which means refraction. In physics, refraction is the change in direction of a wave as it passes from one medium into another with different propagation speeds. This phenomenon occurs for light, sound, and water waves, among others. The bending of the wave is quantitatively described by Snell’s law: n1 sin θ1 = n2 sin θ2, where θ1 is the angle of incidence, θ2 the angle of refraction, and n1 and n2 are the refractive indices of the respective media. The refractive index generally depends on wavelength, giving rise to dispersion where different colors (or frequencies) refract by different amounts.

Applications of refraction are widespread in optical technology. Lenses use refraction to converge or diverge light, enabling eyeglasses, microscopes, and cameras. Prisms exploit refraction to disperse white light into a spectrum. Fiber-optic systems rely on controlled refraction and, increasingly, total internal reflection to guide light through thin cables. In everyday life, refraction affects image formation, focusing in the eye, and the apparent depth of objects submerged in water. Atmospheric refraction can slightly alter the apparent position of celestial bodies.

Additional notes: total internal reflection occurs when the angle of incidence exceeds a critical value, preventing refraction and confining the wave within a medium. Refraction also plays a key role in disciplines such as astronomy, optics, and seismology, where it is used to probe material properties and interfaces.

In Hungarian usage, the form refrakcióval serves to indicate the means or method—“with refraction”—by which a process occurs, as in statements describing experiments or optical phenomena.