Refraction of light

Question 1

When does light bend towards the normal?

Answer 1

when it passes from a less dense medium to a denser one no refraction takes place if the incident ray is along the normal

Question 2

What is the equation for the refractive index of the substance?

Answer 2

n = sin i / sin r

Question 3

Why does refraction occur?

Answer 3

speed of light waves is different in each substance amount of refraction that takes place depends on the speed of the waves

Question 4

What is the equation for refractive index using speed and wavelengths?

Answer 4

n_s = c / c_s = λ / λ_s

n = (speed of light in a vacuum) / (speed of light in the substance)

Question 5

What is snell’s law?

Answer 5

n₁ sinθ₁ = n₂ sinθ₂

where θ₁ = i and θ₂ = r

Question 6

Why does white light split into the colours of spectrum when entering a prism?

Answer 6

white light is composed of light with a continuous range of wavelengths

the prism refract ligh by different amounts, depending on its wavelength

the shorter the wavelength the greater the refraction