When an ultrasonic wave strikes the boundary between two different materials at an angle, it refracts, or changes direction. This is governed by Snell’s Law, which relates the angles of incidence and refraction to the wave velocities in the two media: [latex]\frac{\sin\theta_1}{c_1} = \frac{\sin\theta_2}{c_2}[/latex]. This principle is fundamental for angle beam testing, used to inspect components like welds not accessible from directly above.
