6.2.3.3 Refraction in Daily Life

  1. The effect of refraction causes seaside near to a cape is stony while sea near to a bay is sandy.
  2. At the middle of the sea, the wavefront is a linear line.
  3. This linear form is due to the nearly equal similar depth of water.
  4. When waves move close to the coast line, the wavefronts start to curve and follow the topography of the coast line, due to the effect of refraction.
  5. At the bay, the energy of the have spread to a wider area, and cause the amplitude to reduce.
  6. At the cape, the energy of the wave is converged to a smaller area, therefore the amplitude of the wave increases.