- Refraction of Light Aim: To find a relationship between the angles of INCIDENCE and the angles of refraction by obtaining a set of readings for the angles of incidence and refraction as a light RAY passes from air into perspex. Introduction: Refraction is the bending of a wave when it enters a medium where it's speed is different. The refraction of light when it passes from a fast medium to a slow medium bends the light ray toward the normal to the boundary between the two media..
Refraction occurs when a wave passes from one medium to another and is bent; that is, the wave DEVIATES from the straight-line path it would have otherwise followed. For example, light passing through a prism is bent when it enters the prism and again when it leaves the prism. The light is therefore refracted. Light striking a MIRROR bounces off the silver backing without entering it. The light is therefore reflected. The boundary between the media does not have to be abrupt for reflection or refraction to OCCUR. On a hot day, the air over the surface of an asphalt road is warmer than the air above it. Because light travels at different speeds in these two regions, we see an image that shimmers because its light waves are refracted......