What is the difference between light refraction and diffraction?
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Solution
∙Refraction is when light rays enter a different medium of different optical density and change direction or bend. In this case, Snell's Law is valid to calculate the degree of refraction. If it enters a more optically dense medium it is refracted towards the normal.
∙Diffraction is when light waves bend around obstacles placed in their path and bend into the shadow region. This phenomenon is responsible for interference patterns being formed on-screen placed behind diffraction apparatus for example. Equations are valid for calculating conditions and positions of interference bands.