Chapter 5

Transparency
38
Light

Refraction Of Light
The refraction of light is caused by the change in velocity of light when it passes from
a medium to a different medium.
Refractive index, Normal
Incident ray
Speed of light in vacuum Angle of incidence
n= Air i
Speed of light in a medium Glass Angle of refraction
r
Refracted ray

The straight line graph shows that sin r

sin i ∝ sin r
Refractive index,
sin i
n=
sin r
0 sin i

Refractive index,
i
Real depth
n=
Apparent depth i
r Real depth
Image
r
Water

Object
Phenomena

The refraction of light The apparent bending Different colours of light are
enables the setting sun of a pencil in a glass refracted at different angles.
to stay longer on the of water is due to the This enables the formation of
horizon. refraction of light. a light spectrum.

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