* Snell's Law: The bending of light is governed by Snell's Law. It states that the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence (the angle at which light hits the surface) to the sine of the angle of refraction (the angle at which light bends) is equal to the ratio of the speeds of light in the two mediums.
* Speed of Light: The speed of light is not constant. It travels at its fastest in a vacuum (approximately 299,792,458 meters per second). When light enters a denser medium, like water or glass, it slows down.
* Bending: When light enters a denser medium, it slows down. This slowing causes the light to bend, or refract. The direction of the bend depends on whether the light is entering a slower medium or a faster medium:
* Light entering a slower medium: The light bends *towards* the normal (an imaginary line perpendicular to the surface).
* Light entering a faster medium: The light bends *away* from the normal.
Think of it like this: Imagine a car driving on a smooth road then entering a muddy field. The car slows down in the mud, and its direction will change slightly depending on the angle at which it enters the field.
In summary:
* Light bends when it travels from one medium to another because its speed changes.
* Light bends towards the normal when entering a slower medium.
* Light bends away from the normal when entering a faster medium.
