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In the case of light traveling from air into water, light would be refracted towards the normal line, because the light is slowed down in water; light traveling from water to air would refract away from the normal line.
The changing of a light ray’s direction (loosely called bending) when it passes through variations in matter is called refraction. Refraction is responsible for a tremendous range of optical phenomena, from the action of lenses to voice transmission through optical fibers.
If light travels enters into a substance with a lower refractive index (such as from water into air) it speeds up. The light bends away from the normal line. A higher refractive index shows that light will slow down and change direction more as it enters the substance.
Refraction is the change in speed, wavelength and direction of light caused by a change in medium. For example, when light passes from air into water, the speed decreases, the wavelength decreases, and the light ray bends in toward the normal.
The light enters the water (at the curved side of the dish) along the normal line; no bending occurs upon entry. The light continues through the water along a straight line until it reaches the boundary with air (at the flat side of the dish).
Refraction is responsible for a tremendous range of optical phenomena, from the action of lenses to voice transmission through optical fibers. The changing of a light ray’s direction (loosely called bending) when it passes through variations in matter is called refraction.
Refraction of light is the change in direction (bending of light rays) when it passes from one optically transparent medium to another. When light passes from one medium to another (for example, from air into glass), it changes direction. This change in direction is called refraction.
