Refraction of Light

Refraction

• Refraction is the bending of light as it travels from one medium to another
• This bending causes objects to appear in a different position than their actual location
• Refraction happens because light changes speed when passing through different densities of materials.

Why Does Refraction Happen?

• Denser Medium: When light enters a denser medium (e.g., air to glass), it slows down and bends towards the normal (an imaginary line perpendicular to the surface)
• Less Dense Medium: When light enters a less dense medium (e.g., glass to air), it speeds up and bends away from the normal

The Refracted Ray

• The refracted ray is the path of the light as it passes through the new medium

Angle of Refraction

• The angle of refraction is the change in direction of light as it bends
• It's measured as the angle of the refracted ray relative to the normal.

The Law of Refraction

• As the angle of incidence increases, the angle of refraction increases, but not always at the same amount.
• This law is used to predict how light will bend.
• When light travels from a less dense medium to a denser medium, it bends towards the normal.
• When light travels from a denser medium to a less dense medium, it bends away from the normal.

Mirage

• A mirage is the refraction of light through air with different temperatures and densities (e.g., warm air and cold air).
• Warm air is less dense than cold air.