Why does light slow down in denser media?

[ARAVIND113122]

Why does light slow down when entering a denser medium? And why does it bend when it slows down?

 

[danielakkerma]

Hi,
Since the interaction of light as a wave is governed by Maxwell's equations, they also predict that as light enters media different than vaccum, that has properties defined by such constant as a dielectric and magnetic permittivity and permeability respectively, \epsilon_r, \mu_r altering the refractive index, n = \sqrt {\epsilon_r \mu_r}.
As light negotiates the denser atomic structure in media other than vaccum, via interactions on the atomic scale, it alters its directions due to a change in its phase velocity. To conserve the laws of propogation, i.e Huygens' and Fermat's principles(of "least time"), the light beam deflects. This is true, by-the-by, for any sort of Electromagnetic radation, and stirctly speaking, for any wave, as all might undergo diffraction and thus alter their parameters.
Hope that explains it simply enough,
Daniel

 

[DrGreg]

FAQ: https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=511177