Why is the refracted angle less when light travels from air to water/glass and greater when it travels from glass/water to air ?
Asked by Varsneya Srinivas
| 13th Nov, 2015,
04:22: PM
Expert Answer:
Water/glass are denser media than air.
So, when light travels from air to water/glass, it basically travels from a rarer to denser medium. Hence, the light bends towards the normal after refraction.
This indicates that the angle of refraction will be less than the angle of incidence.
Similarly, when light travels from water/glass to air, it basically travels from a denser to rarer medium. Hence, the light bends away from the normal after refraction.
This indicates that the angle of refraction will be greater than the angle of incidence.
This indicates that the angle of refraction will be greater than the angle of incidence.
Answered by Romal Bhansali
| 14th Nov, 2015,
01:02: PM
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