What happens to light when it passes through materials with varying refractive indices?

What happens to light when it passes through materials with varying refractive indices?

• A. It does not change direction
• B. It changes speed and direction
• C. It only reflects
• D. It creates heat

Answer: (B)

When light passes through materials with varying refractive indices, it changes speed and direction due to the optical properties of the materials. The refractive index determines how much the speed of light is reduced in a given medium compared to its speed in a vacuum. When light moves from one medium to another with a different refractive index—say, from air into glass—it slows down and bends. This bending of light is described by Snell's Law, which states that the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction is constant and equal to the ratio of the velocities (or indices of refraction) of the two media. Thus, as the light transitions between these materials, its direction changes in accordance with the change in speed. The other options are not applicable in this context. Light either travels in a straight line at a constant speed in a homogeneous medium or it undergoes a change in speed and direction when entering a different medium. Reflection does occur at interfaces, but it is not the primary behavior when considering the entirety of light passing through media with varying refractive indices. While light can generate heat through absorption in some materials, this is not a direct consequence of changing refractive indices during transmission.

When light passes through materials with varying refractive indices, it changes speed and direction due to the optical properties of the materials. The refractive index determines how much the speed of light is reduced in a given medium compared to its speed in a vacuum. When light moves from one medium to another with a different refractive index—say, from air into glass—it slows down and bends.

This bending of light is described by Snell's Law, which states that the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction is constant and equal to the ratio of the velocities (or indices of refraction) of the two media. Thus, as the light transitions between these materials, its direction changes in accordance with the change in speed.

The other options are not applicable in this context. Light either travels in a straight line at a constant speed in a homogeneous medium or it undergoes a change in speed and direction when entering a different medium. Reflection does occur at interfaces, but it is not the primary behavior when considering the entirety of light passing through media with varying refractive indices. While light can generate heat through absorption in some materials, this is not a direct consequence of changing refractive indices during transmission.