Physics
Describe an experiment to show that a light ray bends when it passes from one transparent medium into another transparent medium.
Answer
Experiment to show that a light ray bends when it passes from one transparent medium into another transparent medium.
- Take an empty beaker and a pencil. Place the pencil ABC obliquely in the beaker.
- Look at the pencil from side. It appears straight as shown in figure (a).
- Now pour water into the beaker up to its brim.
Pencil appears to be bent as ABD at the surface of water as shown in the figure (b).
The light ray coming from the tip C of the pencil bends at the surface of water as it enters in air and it appears to be coming from point D. Due to refraction of light from water to air, the pencil ABC appears as ABD.
This shows that when a ray of light passes from one transparent medium into another transparent medium it bends.
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The diagram given below in Fig. shows a ray of light AO falling on a surface separating two media. Draw the refracted ray in each, case.
(a)
(b)
(c)
