Which term refers to the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another, due to a change in speed?

Which term refers to the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another, due to a change in speed?

• A. Reflection
• B. Refraction
• C. Diffraction
• D. Interference

Answer: (B)

Light bends when it crosses a boundary because its speed is different in each medium. This bending is called refraction. The change in speed causes the light ray to change direction, usually toward the normal when it slows down and away from the normal when it speeds up. Snell’s law describes how the angles relate to the refractive indices of the two media. A common example is a straw appearing to bend at the water’s surface. Other terms refer to different effects: reflection is light bouncing off a surface, diffraction is light bending around edges or through small openings, and interference is the interaction of overlapping waves that creates patterns.

Light bends when it crosses a boundary because its speed is different in each medium. This bending is called refraction. The change in speed causes the light ray to change direction, usually toward the normal when it slows down and away from the normal when it speeds up. Snell’s law describes how the angles relate to the refractive indices of the two media. A common example is a straw appearing to bend at the water’s surface. Other terms refer to different effects: reflection is light bouncing off a surface, diffraction is light bending around edges or through small openings, and interference is the interaction of overlapping waves that creates patterns.