Final answer:
When a beam of light passes near a very massive star, it bends due to the star's gravitational field. This is a result of the space being warped by the mass of the star, a prediction of Einstein's General Relativity. Light also slows down and bends toward the normal when transitioning from a less dense to a more dense medium like glass.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a beam of light passes near a very massive star, the correct answer is c) The light bends. This phenomenon occurs due to the gravitational pull of the massive star, which warps the space around it, causing the path of the light to curve.
This effect is predicted by Einstein's theory of General Relativity and has been confirmed by observations, such as the bending of starlight observed during a solar eclipse. This bending of light is also referred to as gravitational lensing.
Regarding the speed of light in different mediums, it is important to note that when light travels from one medium to another, such as from air into glass, its speed changes. When light enters a denser medium, like glass, it slows down and bends towards the normal line (option d.
The ray bends toward the normal, and the speed decreases). This bending of light is described by Snell's law and is known as refraction. Additionally, when light slows down upon entering a denser medium, the wavelength of the light decreases.