A ray of light travelling in glass emerges into air. State whether it will bend towards the normal or away from the normal.


When a ray of light travelling in glass (denser medium) emerges into air (rarer medium), then it will bend away from the normal.


Explanation

The angle of refraction or the amount of bending of light depends on the refractive index (μ) of the two media.

1. When light passes through a low refractive index, like air (faster medium or optically rarer medium) to a high refractive index, like glass(slower medium or optically denser medium), its speed decreases and bends towards the normal. 


2. When light passes through a high refractive index, like glass (slower medium or optically denser medium) to a low refractive index, like air (faster medium or optically rarer medium) its speed increases and bends away from the normal. 


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Updated on: 10-Oct-2022

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