Which phenomenon results in the bending of the beam as it passes between media?

Which phenomenon results in the bending of the beam as it passes between media?

• A. Absorption
• B. Refraction
• C. Diffraction
• D. Reflection

Answer: (B)

Refraction is the bending of a wave when it crosses into another medium with a different speed for that wave. When the beam hits the boundary at an angle, its velocity changes as it enters the second medium, causing its path to tilt relative to the boundary. The amount of bending depends on how the speeds (or indices of refraction) differ between the two media, described by Snell’s law: n1 sin(theta1) = n2 sin(theta2). If the second medium slows the wave down, the beam bends toward the normal; if it speeds the wave up, it bends away from the normal. This is why light looks bent when entering water from air or when passing through lenses. Absorption would mainly reduce the wave’s intensity, not its direction. Diffraction involves bending around edges or through openings. Reflection is the wave bouncing back into the original medium.

Refraction is the bending of a wave when it crosses into another medium with a different speed for that wave. When the beam hits the boundary at an angle, its velocity changes as it enters the second medium, causing its path to tilt relative to the boundary. The amount of bending depends on how the speeds (or indices of refraction) differ between the two media, described by Snell’s law: n1 sin(theta1) = n2 sin(theta2). If the second medium slows the wave down, the beam bends toward the normal; if it speeds the wave up, it bends away from the normal. This is why light looks bent when entering water from air or when passing through lenses.

Absorption would mainly reduce the wave’s intensity, not its direction. Diffraction involves bending around edges or through openings. Reflection is the wave bouncing back into the original medium.