1. Speed of Light: Light travels at different speeds in different mediums. It travels faster in air than in water.
2. Change in Direction: When light enters a denser medium (like water), it slows down. This change in speed causes the light ray to bend. The bending occurs at the interface between the two mediums.
3. Snell's Law: The relationship between the angle of incidence (the angle at which the light hits the surface) and the angle of refraction (the angle at which the light bends) is described by Snell's Law:
* n1 * sin(θ1) = n2 * sin(θ2)
* n1 and n2 are the refractive indices of the two mediums (air and water, in this case).
* θ1 is the angle of incidence.
* θ2 is the angle of refraction.
In Summary:
* Light slows down when entering a denser medium.
* This change in speed causes the light ray to bend.
* The amount of bending depends on the refractive indices of the two mediums and the angle of incidence.
Visual Example:
Imagine a car traveling at a constant speed on a smooth road. If the car suddenly hits a patch of mud, it will slow down. As the front wheels slow down, the car will turn towards the mud patch. The same concept applies to light rays when they transition from air to water.
