How does light behave when passing through glass or water?

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When light passes in glass, water etc then velocity is reduced and direction changes HOW?
 
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The change of direction is due to refraction, which is due to the change in the velocity, which is due to the index of refraction.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refraction

The index of refraction is basically due to the electrons of the medium. The electric field of the wave excites oscillations of the electrons, which in turn emit electromagnetic waves that overlap with the incident wave. The net effect is (a) a change in the velocity and (b) absorption. Both together can be described by a complex index of refraction

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refractive_index