Why light bends when it enters a different medium

[SprucerMoose]

G'day all,

I was just wondering why light bends when it enters a different medium. I understand that the light slows down, but why exactly do all the photons, waves or whatever swing around like a gate? Intiutively, I would assume that they would all just slow down and speed back up once leaving the medium, but not change their direction.

Also this is true for mechanical wave fronts in water. Why when one side of the wave front slows down does the neighbouring side swing around? What tension is holding the wavefront together?

 

[sweet springs]

Hi.

There is no such tension. The front lines of the same phases bend naturally.

Regards.

 

[SprucerMoose]

Why?

 

[sweet springs]

Hi.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huygens-Fresnel_principle may help you to investigate the problem.

Regards.

 

[sardar]

Hello there,

Thank you for your question. The phenomenon of light bending when it enters a different medium is known as refraction. This occurs because light travels at different speeds in different mediums. When light enters a medium where it travels slower, it bends towards the normal (an imaginary line perpendicular to the surface of the medium). This is because the part of the wave that enters the medium first is slowed down, while the rest of the wave is still traveling at its original speed. This causes a change in direction for the entire wave front, resulting in refraction.

The reason why all the photons or waves change direction is due to the wave nature of light. Light travels in the form of electromagnetic waves, and these waves interact with the particles in the medium they are traveling through. As they enter a different medium, the particles in that medium cause the wave to change direction.

In terms of mechanical waves in water, the same principle applies. As a wave travels from one medium (such as air) into another (such as water), the particles in the water interact with the wave and cause it to bend. This is due to the tension between the particles in the water, which causes the wave to maintain its shape as it moves through the medium.

I hope this helps to answer your question. Refraction is a fascinating phenomenon that is important in many areas of science, including optics and acoustics. If you would like to learn more about it, I recommend doing some further research or speaking with a physics expert. Keep asking questions and exploring the wonders of the natural world!