What happens to light when it bends?

When light bends, it changes direction. This phenomenon occurs due to a process called refraction, which happens when light passes from one medium to another, such as from air into water or glass. The change in speed of light as it moves through different materials causes it to change its path.

For instance, when light enters a denser medium like water from air, it slows down and bends towards the normal line (an imaginary line perpendicular to the surface). Conversely, when it exits the water and enters air, it speeds up and bends away from the normal. This change in direction is what creates various optical effects, such as the distortion of an object viewed through water or the formation of rainbows.

Understanding this principle is important in the study of wave behavior and optics, as it plays a crucial role in how we interact with light in everyday situations, including in lenses and various optical devices.