Refraction and Lenses - Mission RL2 Detailed Help


If a ray of light passes from a medium in which it moves relatively fast into a medium in which it moves slower, then the light ray will bend ______.

(Note: the actual wording of your question may be switched to a situation of light moving from a slow medium to a fast medium.)


 
The Direction of Bending:
Refraction is the bending of the path of light as it passes across the boundary between two media. The direction of bending is dependent upon the relative speed at which light moves within the two media. The rules are:
  • When light passes from a medium in which it travels faster into a medium in which it travels slower, the light ray will refract towards the normal line.
  • When light passes from a medium in which it travels slower into a medium in which it travels faster, the light ray will refract away from the normal line.