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Three situations may arise when a light wave travelling from an optical medium to another optical medium strikes the second medium. They are as follows:

1. The light ray may bounce off of the medium to which it was travelling with a change in angle.This phenomenon is also known as reflection of light.

2. The light ray may pass through the second medium with a deviation in its angle of incidence. This is also known as refraction of light.

3. The ray may be absorbed by the second medium.

If a light wave does not bounce off of an object then either 1. or 2. may happen. That light ray enter the second medium, or it may be absorbed by that medium.

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Q: What happens when a light wave does not bounce off of an object?
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