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Refraction of Light through a Glass Block.
When a ray of light enters a
glass block at an angle other
than the normal, it changes speed, wavelength
and
direction as shown below. This also happens in a
Lens.
In going from a less
dense medium
(air) to a more
dense
medium (glass),
light bends towards the normal.
This means that i > r (the angle i
is greater than the angle r).
In going from a more dense to a
less dense medium
(glass to air),
light bends away from the normal.
How much the light bends depends on its colour.
The change in angle of
the light ray is the same
when it enters and leaves the
glass.
If the incident ray had continued
without changing direction,
then the emergent ray would be parallel
to it.
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