Science
Refraction.
Definition
Refraction is the bending of a wave as it passes from one medium to another due to a change in speed. Light slows down when entering a denser medium and bends toward the normal; it speeds up and bends away from the normal when entering a less dense medium.
Examples
Real-world.
- 1 A straw appearing bent when placed in a glass of water
- 2 A prism splitting white light into a rainbow of colors
- 3 Mirages on hot roads caused by light bending through layers of air at different temperatures
Key Fact
Snell's law: n₁sinθ₁ = n₂sinθ₂