Refraction
Refraction is the bending of light, when it enters obliquely from one
transparent medium to another.
A transparent substance in which light can travel is called an optical medium.
For example air, water, alcohol, glass etc are some of the common optical media.
Different optical media have different optical densities. Therefore speed of
light in different optical media is different.
A medium in which speed of light is more is said to be an optically rarer medium.
A medium in which speed of light is less is said to be an optically denser medium.
In other words, Light travels faster in an optically rarer medium and light
travels slower in an optically denser medium. The cause of refraction is the
change in speed of light in different types of optical media. Speed of light is
maximum in vacuum and the value is 3x108 m/s.
Some examples of refraction
The bottom of a swimming pool appears higher.
A pencil partially immersed in water appears to be bent at the interface of
air and water.
Letters of a book appear to be raised when seen through a glass slab.
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