In the context of wave behavior, what is meant by "refraction"?

Refraction refers to the bending of waves as they transition from one medium to another, resulting in a change in speed due to the differing properties of the media involved. For instance, when light enters water from air, it slows down, causing it to bend at the interface between the two substances. This phenomenon is significant in various applications, such as lenses in optical devices, where controlling the direction of light is essential for focusing images.

The other concepts presented, while related to wave behavior, do not accurately describe refraction. Scattering involves the diffusion of waves in multiple directions without a change in their speed or direction governed by medium boundaries. Complete reflection occurs when waves bounce back entirely at a boundary, and absorption refers to the process where the wave energy is taken up by the medium and converted into other forms of energy, such as heat. Each of these behaviors describes distinct interactions of waves, whereas refraction specifically deals with the bending and change in direction of waves as they traverse different media.