refraction of em waves

how do electromagnetic waves travel?

• travel at same speed in a vaccum

• slow down when they encounter certain materials

what happens to a wave when it hits a wavefront medium?

• different parts of the wave enter the medium at different times

• this causes a change in speed

• difference in speed causes a bend

why does refraction happen?

• this happens when light passes through a boundary of two different transparent materials

what happens at the boundary?

undergo change in direction

what does the change in light depend on?

depends on media light rays pass between

what happens to light from a less dense to a more dense medium?

light bends towards the normal

what happens when a light ray passes from a dense to a less dense medium?

light will bend away from the normal

what happens to light ray when passes through the normal?

• does not bend at all