Light travels more quickly through water than through glass.(a) Which is optically denser : water or glass?(b) If a ray of light passes from glass into water, which way will it bend : towards the normal or away from the normal?

(a) Glass is optically denser as compared to water.

(b) If a ray of light passes from glass into water, it will bend away from the normal because glass is a denser medium as compared to water.

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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