Why is understanding refraction crucial for studying light waves?

AI Thread Summary
Refraction is the bending of light waves as they pass from one medium to another, making it crucial for understanding optics. It differs from reflection in that refraction involves absorption into the surface, affecting how images are formed. Knowledge of refraction is essential for using lenses in devices like glasses, binoculars, telescopes, and microscopes. Understanding Snell's law and ray optics is necessary to grasp how refraction enables image magnification. Without refraction, the functionality of these optical instruments would be compromised.
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Homework Statement


Why is refraction an important property of light?

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The Attempt at a Solution


Refraction is turning or bending of a wave, such as light or sound, as it pass from one substance to another. So why is refraction an important property of light? Refraction is absorbed into the surface unlike reflection. Thats all i know.
 
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Do you think optics is important? Do you wear glasses or have ever used a pair of binoculars or looked thru a telescope or microscope? Do you like the looks of a rainbow?

Answer your question?
 
Ok, ok.
 
Last edited:
rude man said:
Do you think optics is important? Do you wear glasses or have ever used a pair of binoculars or looked thru a telescope or microscope? Do you like the looks of a rainbow?

Answer your question?

Ive seen through binoculars but how does that relate to refraction. It zooms in on the image. Can you please explain.
 
You need to study how lenses work. Snell's law . Ray optics. Then you'd see.
No refractiion, no image magnification.

Unless you go with mirrors.
 

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