Physics
What is the cause of refraction of light when it passes from one medium to another?
Answer
When a ray of light passes from one medium to another medium, its direction (or path) changes because of the change in speed of light in going from one medium to another.
In passing from one medium to other, if light slows down, it bends towards the normal and if light speeds up, it bends away from the normal.
If the speed of light remains same in passing from one medium to another, the ray of light does not bend then it passes undeviated.
Hence, we can say that the cause of refraction of light is that its speed is different in different mediums.
Related Questions
Fill in the blanks to complete the following sentences —
(a) When light travels from a rarer to a denser medium, its speed ……………
(b) When light travels from a denser to a rarer medium, its speed ……………
(c) The refractive index of glass with respect to air is 3/2. The refractive index of air with respect to glass will be ……………
What do you understand by refraction of light?
State the Snell’s laws of refraction of light.
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