Yes, refraction can occur for both light and sound waves. Refraction is the phenomenon of the bending of waves as they pass from one medium to another with different optical or acoustic properties.
When a wave transitions from one medium to another, such as from air to water or from one layer of the atmosphere to another, the change in the properties of the medium can cause the wave to change direction. This change in direction is known as refraction.
In the case of light waves, refraction occurs when light passes through different transparent media with varying refractive indices, such as air, water, glass, or lenses. The change in the speed of light as it enters a new medium causes the light wave to bend, resulting in the phenomenon of refraction. This is commonly observed when light appears to bend or change direction when passing through a lens, a prism, or when light is refracted through a water surface.
Similarly, sound waves can also experience refraction when they pass through different media with varying acoustic properties. For example, when sound travels from one medium to another, such as air to water or from one layer of the atmosphere to another, the change in the speed of sound can cause the sound wave to bend or change direction. This bending of sound waves due to refraction is responsible for various acoustic phenomena, such as the way sound travels around obstacles, the focusing of sound waves, or the bending of sound near the ground in outdoor environments.
In both cases, refraction occurs because the wave encounters a change in the medium's properties, such as its density, refractive index, or acoustic impedance. These changes lead to a change in the wave's speed, causing it to bend as it propagates through the new medium.