Integrated Science

23rd November, 2021

Refraction of Light

CLICK THE FOLLOWING YOUTUBE LINK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR5EarZ2iSg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkv0uZTP_zo

(NOTES)

We know that light is a form of energy and can undergo various phenomena like diffraction,
reflection, refraction, interference, and polarization. Refraction is the phenomenon that takes
place due to the bending of light when it travels from medium to another. In this article, let us
briefly understand the process of refraction.

What is Refraction?
Refraction is the bending of a wave when it passes from one medium to another. The bending is
caused due to the differences in density between the two substances.
Refraction of light is one of the most commonly observed phenomena, but other waves like
sound waves and water waves also experience refraction. Refraction makes it possible for us to
have optical instruments such as magnifying glasses, lenses and prisms. It is also because of
the refraction of light that we are able to focus light on our retina

Causes of Refraction
Change of Speed Results in Change in Direction
A light ray refracts whenever it travels at an angle into a medium of different refractive index. This
change in speed results in a change in direction. As an example, consider air travelling into water.
The speed of light decreases as it continues to travel at a different angle.
Refraction of light in glass is shown in the figure above. When light travels from air into glass, the
light slows down and changes direction slightly. When light travels from a less dense substance
to a denser substance, the refracted light bends more towards the normal line. If the light wave
approaches the boundary in a direction that is perpendicular to it, the light ray doesn’t refract in
spite of the change in speed.

What is Refractive Index?

The refractive index, also called the index of refraction, describes how fast
light travels through the material.

Refraction of Light in Real Life

● Mirage and looming are optical illusions which are a result of refraction of light.
● A swimming pool always looks shallower than it really is because the light coming from
the bottom of the pool bends at the surface due to refraction of light.
● Formation of a rainbow is an example of refraction as the sun rays bend through the
raindrops resulting in the rainbow.
● When white light passes through a prism it is split into its component colours – red,
orange, yellow, green, blue and violet due to refraction of light.

Applications of Refraction of Light

Refraction has many applications in optics and technology. A few of the prominent applications
are listed below:

● A lens uses refraction to form an image of an object for various purposes, such as
magnification.
 ● Spectacles worn by people with defective vision use the principle of refraction.
● Refraction is used in peepholes of house doors, cameras, movie projectors and
telescopes.

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

Define Refraction.
The change in the direction of a wave when it passes from one medium to another is known as
refraction.

When does refraction of waves occur?

The refraction of light occurs when a light wave, incident at an angle away from the normal,
passes a boundary from one medium into another in which there is a change in velocity of the
light.
When the incident light is perpendicular to the boundary, refraction of light is not possible.
Reflection of light is when the light bounces off a medium. If the medium has a smooth surface,
then the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection. Refraction of light is the change in
the direction of light as it passes from one medium to another.

State an example of refraction of light.

An example of refraction is the rainbow. The light rays bend as they enter water drops in the
atmosphere forming a rainbow.