Refraction vs. Dispersion — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Refraction and Dispersion
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Compare with Definitions
Refraction
In physics, refraction is the change in direction of a wave passing from one medium to another or from a gradual change in the medium. Refraction of light is the most commonly observed phenomenon, but other waves such as sound waves and water waves also experience refraction.
Dispersion
The action or process of distributing things or people over a wide area
Some seeds rely on birds for dispersion
Refraction
The deflection of a wave, such as a light or sound wave, when it passes obliquely from one medium into another having a different index of refraction.
Dispersion
The separation of white light into colours or of any radiation according to wavelength.
Refraction
(Astronomy) The apparent change in position of a celestial object caused by the bending of light rays as they enter Earth's atmosphere.
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Dispersion
The extent to which values of a variable differ from a fixed value such as the mean.
Refraction
The ability of the eye to bend light so that an image is focused on the retina.
Dispersion
The act or process of dispersing.
Refraction
Determination of this ability in an eye.
Dispersion
The state of being dispersed.
Refraction
(physics) The turning or bending of any wave, such as a light or sound wave, when it passes from one medium into another of different optical density.
Dispersion
Dispersion The Diaspora of the Jews.
Refraction
(metallurgy) The degree to which a metal or compound can withstand heat
Dispersion
(Statistics) The degree of scatter of data, usually about an average value, such as the median.
Refraction
The act of refracting, or the state of being refracted.
Dispersion
Separation of a complex wave into its component parts according to a given characteristic, such as frequency or wavelength.
Refraction
The change in the direction of ray of light, heat, or the like, when it enters obliquely a medium of a different density from that through which it has previously moved.
Refraction out of the rarer medium into the denser, is made towards the perpendicular.
Dispersion
Separation of visible light into colors by refraction or diffraction.
Refraction
The change in the direction of a ray of light, and, consequently, in the apparent position of a heavenly body from which it emanates, arising from its passage through the earth's atmosphere; - hence distinguished as atmospheric refraction, or astronomical refraction.
Dispersion
(Chemistry) See disperse system.
Refraction
The change in direction of a propagating wave (light or sound) when passing from one medium to another
Dispersion
The state of being dispersed; dispersedness.
Refraction
The amount by which a propagating wave is bent
Dispersion
A process of dispersing.
Dispersion
The degree of scatter of data.
Dispersion
(optics) The separation of visible light by refraction or diffraction.
Dispersion
(medicine) The removal of inflammation.
Dispersion
The act or process of scattering or dispersing, or the state of being scattered or separated; as, the Jews in their dispersion retained their rites and ceremonies; a great dispersion of the human family took place at the building of Babel.
The days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished.
Dispersion
The separation of light into its different colored rays, arising from their different refrangibilities.
Dispersion
Spreading widely or driving off
Dispersion
The spatial property of being scattered about over an area or volume
Dispersion
The act of dispersing or diffusing something;
The dispersion of the troops
The diffusion of knowledge
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