EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -This is because light travels at different speeds in different media. When light travels from a medium of lower density to a medium of higher density, the ray bends towards the normal as the light slows down. The greater the change in densities, the greater the speed and direction change.

Detailed explanation-2: -The speed of light in different mediums is different, highest being in vacuum (approx 3×108m/s). In all other media, the speed will be lesser depending upon the refractive index of the media.

Detailed explanation-3: -When light travels through mediums of different densities, it bends from its normal direction of motion. Also, the earth’s atmosphere has layers of varying density.

Detailed explanation-4: -Light is refracted (bent) only at the interface between two transparent materials of different density. Light passing from a less dense to a more dense medium bends toward the normal. Light passing from a more dense to a less dense medium bends away from the normal.

Detailed explanation-5: -A denser medium provides more matter from which the light can scatter, so light will travel more slowly in a dense medium. A slower speed means a higher index of refraction, so n2 > n1, as indicated in the image on the left.