You observed light passing through lenses and through a set of prisms. Why does refraction occur?
light slows down when passing through the glass. Each color slows down a different amount.
Refraction occurs when light passes through a medium with a different refractive index, causing the light to change its direction. It happens due to the change in speed of light as it enters a different medium. The refractive index is a measure of how much a medium can bend light. When light enters a medium with a higher refractive index, it slows down and bends towards the normal (an imaginary line perpendicular to the surface). On the other hand, when light enters a medium with a lower refractive index, it speeds up and bends away from the normal. This change in speed and direction is what we observe as refraction.
Refraction occurs when light passes from one medium to another, such as air to glass or water to air. It happens due to the change in speed of light as it transitions from one medium to another. The speed of light is different in different materials because light interacts differently with the particles in each medium.
When light passes through a medium, it interacts with the atoms or molecules in that medium. In most cases, light travels slower in a denser medium, such as glass or water, compared to its speed in air. As a result, when light enters or exits a medium at an angle, it changes direction, which is known as refraction.
The change in direction of light during refraction can be explained by Snell's Law, which states that the ratio of the sines of the angles of incidence and refraction is equal to the ratio of the velocities of light in the two media.
To calculate the direction of the refracted light, you can use Snell's Law equation: n₁sinθ₁ = n₂sinθ₂. Here, n₁ and n₂ represent the refractive indices of the two media, and θ₁ and θ₂ represent the angles of incidence and refraction, respectively.
By understanding the properties of the materials and their refractive indices, you can predict and explain how light will bend or refract when passing through lenses and prisms.