The "Marching Band" Pivot
This section visualizes the classic "lawnmower hitting grass" analogy. Set the speeds below and watch the wavefront refract.
Simulation Controls
2D String Transmission
This interactive illustrates a continuous transverse wave moving from a "fast" thin string to a "slow" thick string, focusing purely on how spatial width (wavelength) shrinks dramatically in response to a drop in speed.
Data Observation: Watch the crests of the wave. In the thin string, they travel quickly and are spaced far apart. When they hit the boundary, they slow down, causing the crests to "bunch up" (shorter wavelength) while the overall rhythm (frequency) remains identical.
White Light Dispersion
How does wavelength affect refraction? White light is a mixture of all visible frequencies. While all colors travel at the exact same speed in a vacuum ($c$), they interact differently with physical matter.
Material Dispersion
Increase the glass dispersion factor to see how higher frequencies separate from lower frequencies.
The Physics Rule:
Higher frequency waves (like Violet) slow down
more than lower frequency waves (like Red) when entering glass.
Because Violet slows down more, it bends more.
This is why the rainbow spreads out!
Visualization: Notice the incident white light is represented as a
linear beam. Once it enters the prism, we visualize the individual colors as transverse
waves to reveal their hidden properties! Red has a
longer wavelength (crests are further apart), while Violet has a shorter wavelength. Inside the glass,
all wavelengths shrink because the light slows down!