Have you ever wondered why a straw seems broken in a glass of water? Why distant landscapes look distorted on a hot day? These are not mere illusions but stories told by light itself, bending and morphing along the boundaries of different mediums. To understand refraction is to capture echoes of déjà vu, moments when the world appears as if etched from familiar dreams.
As light travels, it encounters different materials, each with a unique density. Upon this encounter, it bends, changing speed— a transformation akin to a traveler adjusting their course across diverse terrains. This bending of light serves as a window into the invisible, a recurrent theme in the poetry of nature.
Observe how the ray of light refracts, changing its path upon entering a new medium.
Q: Why does light bend?
A: Light bends due to changes in its speed when entering different materials.
Q: What is the law that governs refraction?
A: Snell's Law describes the angle of incidence and refraction.
Q: Can we see refraction in everyday life?
A: Yes, through phenomena like rainbows, mirages, and in lenses.