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The density. Refraction occurs at the boundary between two media of differing densities, such as air and water.

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Does refraction occur only if rays are straight up and down?

No, refraction can occur whenever light rays pass through a medium with a different optical density. The amount of refraction depends on the angle at which the light rays enter the medium, not just if they are straight up and down.


Why can we have refraction without dispersion but cannot have dispersion without refraction?

Refraction occurs when light travels through a medium with different optical density, causing a change in its speed and direction. This phenomenon can occur without dispersion, which specifically refers to the separation of light into different colors based on their wavelengths. Dispersion cannot occur without refraction because the bending of light during refraction is necessary for different colors to be refracted at different angles, leading to dispersion.


Does refraction take place in opaque objects?

Refraction is the phenomenon which allows light to pass from one medium into the other. But opaque object will not allow light to pass through. So refraction becomes impossible in case of opaque objects.


In which of the following would refraction occur?

Refraction occurs when light passes through a medium with a different density, such as air to water or air to glass.


What are the conditions necessary for refraction?

Refraction occurs when light passes from one medium to another of different optical density. The speed of light must change as it travels from one medium to another at an angle, causing it to bend. The angle of incidence must also be different from the angle of refraction for refraction to occur.

Related Questions

Does refraction occur only if rays are straight up and down?

No, refraction can occur whenever light rays pass through a medium with a different optical density. The amount of refraction depends on the angle at which the light rays enter the medium, not just if they are straight up and down.


Why can we have refraction without dispersion but cannot have dispersion without refraction?

Refraction occurs when light travels through a medium with different optical density, causing a change in its speed and direction. This phenomenon can occur without dispersion, which specifically refers to the separation of light into different colors based on their wavelengths. Dispersion cannot occur without refraction because the bending of light during refraction is necessary for different colors to be refracted at different angles, leading to dispersion.


How does refraction occur in water?

It is because of the change in velocity of light in two different media.


Does refraction take place in opaque objects?

Refraction is the phenomenon which allows light to pass from one medium into the other. But opaque object will not allow light to pass through. So refraction becomes impossible in case of opaque objects.


In which of the following would refraction occur?

Refraction occurs when light passes through a medium with a different density, such as air to water or air to glass.


What are the conditions necessary for refraction?

Refraction occurs when light passes from one medium to another of different optical density. The speed of light must change as it travels from one medium to another at an angle, causing it to bend. The angle of incidence must also be different from the angle of refraction for refraction to occur.


For refraction to occur in a wave the wave must?

For refraction to occur in a wave, the wave must enter a new medium at an angle.


Will dispersion occur if a polychromatic ray of light enters a prism at an angle of incidence of 90 degree from air to denser medium?

Dispersion will occur, in the sense that the phase velocity of the different wavelengths will be different. What you may be asking is whether refraction (a change in the direction of the light) will occur. Refraction will only be visible if the light impacts at an oblique angle, not 90 degrees.


Does refraction occur for both sound and light waves?

Refraction occurs for any waves, where there's a change in the medium.


Is there a word for light refraction?

The word is rainbow. Rainbows occur when light is reflected inside droplets of water and then refracted out into the air.


When will reflection and refraction occur simultaneously?

Reflection and refraction occur simultaneously when a light ray encounters a boundary between two different mediums at a specific angle known as the Brewster's angle. At this angle, the reflected and refracted rays are perpendicular to each other, allowing both phenomena to occur simultaneously.


What are the 3 conditions that must be met for refraction to occur?

For refraction to occur, the light must be passing from one medium to another, the angle of incidence must be different between the two mediums, and the speed of light must change as it travels between the two mediums.