Refraction

What is Refraction and what does it look like?

light bending at an angle when it goes from one medium to another

When does Light move the fastest and second fastest?

light moves the fastest in a vacuum and the second fastest medium is air

What happens when Light changes mediums and how does density play a role?

light moving from the air into anything else will slow down, air is less dense than water

What is Dispersion?

process of separating colours by refraction

Why is the sky blue (Dispersion)?

when light hits our atmosphere, it separates into all its colours and blue light scatters, making the sky appear blue, while the rest of it reaches our eyes as white light

What happens when cell phones emit blue light?

blue light helps keep us alert during the day, but at night it reduces melatonin production, making it harder to fall asleep and disrupting our circadian rhythm

Difference between Reflection and Refraction

reflection occurs when light bounces off a surface, while refraction occurs when light bends as it passes from one medium to another

What happens when lights travels from air into a more dense medium?

when light travels from air into a more dense medium such as water or glass, it slows down and bends toward the normal

Why can't we catch a Fish exactly where we see it? (in water)

light rays from the fish are refracted as they leave the water and enter the air, this makes the fish appear higher (or in a different position) than it actually is, so if you aim where you see the fish you will miss it

What is the Index of Refraction?

the index of refraction measures how much a material slows down light, a higher index of refraction means light travels more slowly through the material

What is the Index of Refraction? (ratio)

the index of refraction is also thought of as the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of light in a medium

What is the value of n (Index of Refraction)?

index of refraction

What is the value of c (Index of Refraction)?

speed of light in a vacuum (3.00×10^8m/s)

What is the value of v (Index of Refraction)?

speed of light in a given medium (m/s)