BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

When a wave travels through different mediums, both its speed and wavelength change due to the variations in the properties of the materials, such as density and elasticity.

As the wave enters a medium with a different density or elastic property, its speed is affected because waves travel faster in less dense media and slower in denser media. Alongside the speed, the wavelength of the wave also adjusts in accordance with the wave equation, which relates speed, frequency, and wavelength. Specifically, the frequency of the wave remains constant as it transitions between mediums, meaning that any change in speed will directly impact the wavelength.

The amplitude of the wave may also change upon entering a new medium, but this change is not guaranteed and can depend on the nature of the wave and the mediums involved. Furthermore, while direction change is possible when a wave passes between different media (a phenomenon known as refraction), it does not encapsulate the fuller effect of speed and wavelength adjustments. Thus, the most comprehensive and accurate answer is that both speed and wavelength change when a wave travels through different mediums.