Why light bends when it enters a different medium

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Light bends when it enters a different medium due to a change in speed, which alters its direction. This phenomenon is explained by the Huygens-Fresnel principle, where each point on a wavefront acts as a source of secondary wavelets that spread out in new directions. When one side of a wavefront slows down, the neighboring side continues moving, causing the entire wavefront to bend rather than just slow down. There is no tension holding the wavefront together; the bending occurs naturally as a result of the change in speed. Understanding these principles clarifies why both light and mechanical waves exhibit this behavior.
SprucerMoose
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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?
 
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Hi.

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

Regards.
 


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