Question:medium

State the reason for the bending of the refracted ray away from the normal.
path of a ray of light going from Medium 1 to Medium  2

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Refraction occurs when light travels from one medium to another, and the direction of bending depends on the speed of light in the media.
Updated On: Jan 13, 2026
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Solution and Explanation

Refraction, the bending of light, happens when light moves between substances with different refractive indices. Light bends because its speed changes. As light enters a denser medium (Medium 2), it slows down compared to Medium 1. The refracted light ray bends away from the normal, showing light's speed is slower in Medium 2 than in Medium 1. This bending is due to the difference in refractive indices. In summary, light bends away from the normal because it slows down in the denser medium (Medium 2).
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