What happens to light as it enters a denser medium?

What happens to light as it enters a denser medium?

• A. It speeds up and bends away from the normal
• B. It slows down and bends towards the normal
• C. It maintains its speed and direction
• D. It is completely absorbed by the medium

Answer: (B)

As light transitions from a less dense medium to a denser medium, its speed decreases due to the increased refractive index of the second medium. This phenomenon is described by Snell's Law, which quantifies how light refracts (bends) at the interface between two media with different refractive indices. When light enters a denser medium, it bends towards the normal—an imaginary line perpendicular to the surface at the point of entry. This bending occurs because the change in speed of the light wave causes it to change direction. As light travels more slowly in the denser medium, the wavelength shortens while the frequency remains constant, leading to the characteristic bending towards the normal. Understanding this behavior is critical in various applications of optics, such as lenses and prisms, where the manipulation of light paths is essential for focusing images or dispersing light.

As light transitions from a less dense medium to a denser medium, its speed decreases due to the increased refractive index of the second medium. This phenomenon is described by Snell's Law, which quantifies how light refracts (bends) at the interface between two media with different refractive indices.

When light enters a denser medium, it bends towards the normal—an imaginary line perpendicular to the surface at the point of entry. This bending occurs because the change in speed of the light wave causes it to change direction. As light travels more slowly in the denser medium, the wavelength shortens while the frequency remains constant, leading to the characteristic bending towards the normal.

Understanding this behavior is critical in various applications of optics, such as lenses and prisms, where the manipulation of light paths is essential for focusing images or dispersing light.