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A ray of light bends upon entering a new medium. What is this phenomenon called?

2 Answers

3 votes
Ii believe it's a refraction
User Sebastian Schumann
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Answer:

Refraction

Step-by-step explanation:

Refraction is a phenomenon which results when a ray of light enters from one medium to another medium. The speed of light in a medium slows down. It depends upon the optical density of the medium which is given by refractive index.

When a ray of light enters from rarer medium to denser medium, it bends towards the normal.

When a ray of light enters from denser medium to rarer medium, it bends away from the normal.

The laws of refraction are:

  • The incident ray, the refracted ray and the normal all lie in the same plane.

  • (sin i)/(sin r)=(n_2)/(n_1)

This is Snell's law. i is the angle of incidence, r is the angle of refraction, n₁ is the refractive index of medium 1 and n₂ is the refractive index of the medium 2.

User Bentedder
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