View Single Post
Nov28-12, 10:22 AM   #1
 

Phenomenon of Light Refraction


I have read about effect of refraction due to slowing of light rays reaching the denser medium first and so light bends etc...but why can't light go as shown in the figure (attachment)?
In the diagram (Sry, not a great artist ;-) ) the wavefront does change but not the path of light.....or is it because of apparent angle of light that reaches our eyes that cause refraction phenomenon? (Like if u trace back the changed wavefront...it will give different perception of the actual object ie the path doesnt change but the wavefront changes)
Thanks..
Attached Thumbnails
Light.png  
PhysOrg.com
PhysOrg
physics news on PhysOrg.com

>> Study provides better understanding of water's freezing behavior at nanoscale
>> Soft matter offers new ways to study how ordered materials arrange themselves
>> Making quantum encryption practical