A sound wave traveling from an area of warm water into an area of cold water will be affected in what way?

When a sound wave travels from warm water, where the speed of sound is higher, into cold water, where the speed of sound is lower, the wave undergoes refraction, which results in bending. Sound waves travel faster in warmer media due to increased molecular activity, which allows sound waves to propagate more quickly as molecules collide and transmit the sound energy. Upon entering the colder region, the wave slows down and bends toward the cooler medium, following the principle that waves will always bend in the direction of decreasing speed. This bending is an important aspect of sound wave behavior across mediums with varying temperatures, hence the correct conclusion is that the sound wave will indeed bend toward the area of cold water. Understanding this principle is crucial for applications in fields such as underwater acoustics and sonar.