Refraction
2 marks · NormalWater waves pass from deep to shallow water. Describe what happens to the direction and speed of the waves. Explain briefly.
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The waves slow down and bend towards the normal as they enter shallow water because the speed is lower in shallow water.
Also accept: Waves change direction and slow down.; They slow and bend towards the normal.
Common mistakes: Only mentioning speed, not direction; Describing reflection
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Marking points
B1 · 1 mark · States speed decreases in shallow water
B1 · 1 mark · Describes the wave direction changes (towards normal)
Worked solution
As water waves move from deep to shallow water, they slow down and bend towards the normal. This is because the speed of the waves is lower in shallow water, causing the direction to change.