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Light waves slow down when they enter a new medium because they interact with the atoms or molecules in the medium, causing them to be absorbed and re-emitted. This process delays the wave propagation, resulting in a decrease in speed.

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1y ago

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Do light waves slow down or speed up when they hit water?

When light waves enter water, they slow down. This change in speed is due to the difference in the refractive index between air and water, which causes the light to bend as it moves from one medium to another.


When light waves slow down do they change direction?

When light waves slow down as they travel from one medium to another, such as from air to glass, they do change direction. This change in direction is called refraction and occurs due to the change in speed of the light waves in the new medium.


How do light waves travel as they enter the water?

As light waves enter water, they slow down due to the change in the medium's density. This change in speed causes the light waves to refract or change direction, bending towards the normal line. The extent of bending depends on the angle of incidence and the difference in the refractive indices of air and water.


Why light bends away from normal when enter from denser to rare medium?

Light slows down when it enters a denser medium due to increased interactions with the molecules in the medium. This slowing causes the light waves to bend away from the normal line to maintain the same frequency and to obey the law of conservation of energy.


What happens when light goes from a less dense medium to a more dense medium?

When light goes from a less dense to a more dense medium, it slows down and changes direction. This change in speed and direction is known as refraction. Refraction occurs because the speed of light is different in different mediums, causing the light waves to bend as they enter the more dense medium.

Related Questions

Do light waves slow down or speed up when they hit water?

When light waves enter water, they slow down. This change in speed is due to the difference in the refractive index between air and water, which causes the light to bend as it moves from one medium to another.


When light waves slow down do they change direction?

When light waves slow down as they travel from one medium to another, such as from air to glass, they do change direction. This change in direction is called refraction and occurs due to the change in speed of the light waves in the new medium.


How do light waves travel as they enter the water?

As light waves enter water, they slow down due to the change in the medium's density. This change in speed causes the light waves to refract or change direction, bending towards the normal line. The extent of bending depends on the angle of incidence and the difference in the refractive indices of air and water.


Why light bends away from normal when enter from denser to rare medium?

Light slows down when it enters a denser medium due to increased interactions with the molecules in the medium. This slowing causes the light waves to bend away from the normal line to maintain the same frequency and to obey the law of conservation of energy.


What happens when light goes from a less dense medium to a more dense medium?

When light goes from a less dense to a more dense medium, it slows down and changes direction. This change in speed and direction is known as refraction. Refraction occurs because the speed of light is different in different mediums, causing the light waves to bend as they enter the more dense medium.


What waves occur when the motion of the medium at is right angles to the direction of the wave?

Transverse waves occur when the motion of the medium is perpendicular to the direction of the wave. In transverse waves, the particles of the medium move up and down or side to side as the wave passes through. Examples of transverse waves include light waves, water waves, and electromagnetic waves.


What happens to the speed of light waves when they travel through a medium?

The speed of light in a material medium is slower than the speed of light in a vacuum. This is a consequence of the electromagnetic wave interacting with the atoms and molecules in the medium, a process merits its own question.Of course, this assumes the medium is transparent for the wavelength of light travelling through it.Light waves slow down when they pass through a medium, eg glass or water


When do light waves change speed?

speed of light is different for materials of different refractive index and also higher the refractive index lesser will be speed of light in that medium. so if light travels from rarer to denser medium (with respect to refractive index) then light waves will change their speed


How do transverse waves travel through a medium?

Transverse waves travel through a medium by vibrating perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. As the wave moves through the medium, particles in the medium oscillate up and down or side to side, transferring energy along the wave's path. Examples of transverse waves include electromagnetic waves like light and radio waves.


What are waves that move the medium at RIGHT angles to the direction the wave travels?

Transverse waves move the medium perpendicular to the direction of the wave. This means the particles of the medium oscillate up and down or side to side as the wave passes through. Examples of transverse waves include light waves and electromagnetic waves.


Waves need matter to travel throgh?

waves such as transverse waves, like moving a rope up and down causing waves, does require a medium but energy in the form of light (its still debatible weather its a particle or wave) doesnt need a medium,like electromagnetic waves


What causes light rays to bend when they enter a new medium at an angle?

Light rays bend when they enter a new medium at an angle because they either slow down or speed up. They speed up the most if they are in a vacuum.