Question 1
A ray of light travelling in air enters obliquely into water. Does the light ray bend towards the normal or away from the normal? Why?

Open in App

Solution

The ray of light bends towards the normal. When a ray of light enters from an optically rarer medium (having a low refractive index) to an optically denser medium (having a high refractive index), its speed slows down and it bends towards the normal. Since water is optically denser than air, a ray of light entering from air into water will bend towards the normal.

Suggest Corrections

Similar questions

Q. A ray of light goes from water into air. Will it bend towards the normal or away from the normal?

When a ray of light travelling in glass enters into water obliquely : (a) it is refracted towards the normal (b) it is not refracted at all (c) it goes along the normal (d) it is refracted away from the normal

Join BYJU'S Learning Program

Question 1 A ray of light travelling in air enters obliquely into water. Does the light ray bend towards the normal or away from the normal? Why?

Question 1
A ray of light travelling in air enters obliquely into water. Does the light ray bend towards the normal or away from the normal? Why?