Question

Does light change direction toward or away from the normal when it goes from air to water? Explain.

a) Toward the normal.

b) Away from the normal.

c) It remains unchanged.

d) It depends on the color of light.

Answer 1

Light changes direction toward the normal when it goes from air to water due to the phenomenon of refraction, as water has a higher index of refraction than air, resulting in light slowing down as it enters water.

Step-by-step explanation:

When light travels from air to water, it changes direction toward the normal. This change in direction, known as refraction, occurs because light travels at different speeds in different media. Air has a lower index of refraction than water, meaning that light travels faster in air than in water. When light enters the water, it slows down, causing it to bend toward the normal line which is the line perpendicular to the surface where the light enters the new medium.

This principle is the same for any situation where light is moving from a medium with a lower index of refraction to a medium with a higher index of refraction. For example, when light moves from water to glass, the direction of light will also bend toward the normal if the index of refraction of glass is higher than that of water.