How does light refract in different media?

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Light refraction occurs when light waves change direction as they pass from one medium to another due to a change in speed. This phenomenon is governed by the laws of refraction, which are fundamental principles in optics.

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Principles of Refraction

Change in Speed: When light travels from one medium to another, its speed changes. Light travels faster in less dense media (like air) and slower in more dense media (like water or glass). This change in speed causes the light to bend, or refract.
Snell's Law: The relationship between the angles of incidence and refraction is described by Snell's Law, which states:
$n_1 \sin \theta_1 = n_2 \sin \theta_2$
where $n_1$ and $n_2$ are the refractive indices of the first and second media, respectively, and $\theta_1$ and $\theta_2$ are the angles of incidence and refraction, respectively.
Refractive Index: The refractive index ( $n$ ) of a medium is a dimensionless number that describes how light propagates through that medium. It is defined as the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum ( $c$ ) to the speed of light in the medium ( $v$ ):
$n = \frac{c}{v}$
A higher refractive index indicates that light travels slower in that medium.

Mechanism of Refraction

Incident Ray: The ray of light that strikes the boundary between two media.
Refracted Ray: The ray of light that bends as it enters the second medium.
Normal: The line perpendicular to the boundary at the point of incidence.

When light passes from a less dense medium to a more

How does light refract in different media?

Preview

Principles of Refraction

Change in Speed: When light travels from one medium to another, its speed changes. Light travels faster in less dense media (like air) and slower in more dense media (like water or glass). This change in speed causes the light to bend, or refract.
Snell's Law: The relationship between the angles of incidence and refraction is described by Snell's Law, which states:
$n_1 \sin \theta_1 = n_2 \sin \theta_2$
where $n_1$ and $n_2$ are the refractive indices of the first and second media, respectively, and $\theta_1$ and $\theta_2$ are the angles of incidence and refraction, respectively.
Refractive Index: The refractive index ( $n$ ) of a medium is a dimensionless number that describes how light propagates through that medium. It is defined as the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum ( $c$ ) to the speed of light in the medium ( $v$ ):
$n = \frac{c}{v}$
A higher refractive index indicates that light travels slower in that medium.

Mechanism of Refraction

Incident Ray: The ray of light that strikes the boundary between two media.
Refracted Ray: The ray of light that bends as it enters the second medium.
Normal: The line perpendicular to the boundary at the point of incidence.

When light passes from a less dense medium to a more