Refraction Flashcards
What is refraction?
Refraction is the bending of light from one medium (such as air) into another (such as water).
Why does light bend?
Light bends because it changes speed when it moves between different materials with different densities.
What happens when light moves from air into water?
The light bends toward the normal.
When can refraction also occur?
Refraction can also occur when light travels into different temperatures. Warm air is less dense than cold air.
When light refracts…
the angle in the air is always greater than the angle in the other substance.
Light entering other substances…
bends toward the normal.
Light leaving a substance and entering the air…
bends away from the normal.
Light entering glass..
Bends toward the normal
Light entering air after travelling through a substance…
Bends away from the normal
Light entering water bends..
Towards the normal
