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In support of all the students who are displaced from school due to the Corona virus. Access to physics zone and chemistry zone lessons are now available free of charge. This will be maintained at least through August 1st 2020. Learn and be well.

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Refraction of Light

Refraction
The bending of waves as they obliquely (some angle other than along the normal) enter a new medium.
The bending is caused by one side of the wave changing speed before the other side.   Going from a fast medium into a slower medium will cause the ray of light to bend toward the normal, while going from a slow medium into a faster one will cause the ray to bend away from the normal.

Marching soldiers animationA useful analogy in explaining the refraction of light would be to imagine a marching band as they march from pavement (a fast medium) into mud (a slower medium)  The marchers on the side that runs into the mud first will slow down first.  This causes the whole band to pivot slightly toward the normal (make a smaller angle from the normal).

 

Continue to refraction lesson.