A-ray of light travelling from a rarer medium to a denser medium

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CDS 02/2021: GK Previous Paper (Held On 14 Nov 2021)
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  1. slows down and bends away from the normal,
  2. slows down and bends towards the normal.
  3. speeds up and bends away from the normal.
  4. speeds up and bends towards the normal.

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 2 : slows down and bends towards the normal.
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Detailed Solution

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The correct answer is to slow down and bend towards the normal.

Key Points

Refraction

  • It is the bending of light rays after entering a medium where its speed is different.
  • Due to the refraction of light, when a ray of light passes from a rarer medium to a denser medium, bends towards the normal boundary between the two media. The amount of bending depends on the indices of refraction of the two media. 
  • A ray of light traveling from a rarer medium to a denser medium slows down and bends towards the normal. Hence, Option 2 is correct.
  • When it travels from a denser medium to a rarer medium, it speeds up and bends away from the normal.
  • The angle of refraction or the amount of bending of light depends on the refractive index (μ) of the two media.
  • When light passes through a low refractive index, like air (faster medium or optically rarer medium) to a high refractive index, like glass(slower medium or optically denser medium), its speed decreases and bends towards the normal. 
  • When light passes through a high refractive index, like glass (slower medium or optically denser medium) to a low refractive index, like air (faster medium or optically rarer medium) its speed increases and bends away from the normal. 

F2 Aman Madhuri 17.01.2022 D5

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