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A ray of light traveling along the normal does not refract because it is already traveling along the normal line, which is the interface between two different mediums and the direction of the refracted light. Since it is already following the normal, there is no change in direction and, therefore, no refraction.

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1y ago

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When angle of incidence is zero?

When the angle of incidence is zero, the incident ray is perpendicular to the surface. This means the light ray travels straight along the normal and does not refract or bend. This phenomena is known as normal incidence.


What happens to a ray of light that slows down when it hits a new medium at an angle?

When a ray of light slows down as it enters a new medium at an angle, it also changes direction. This change in speed and direction is called refraction. The amount by which the light bends depends on the difference in the speed of light between the two media.


Why does the wave of light bend toward the normal as it enters water?

The wave of light bends toward the normal as it enters water due to the change in speed of light. Light travels slower in water than in air, causing it to refract towards the normal. This bending of light is governed by Snell's Law.


Can opaque substances refract light?

No, opaque substances do not refract light. Refraction occurs when light passes through a transparent medium and changes speed, causing the light to bend. Opaque substances do not allow light to pass through them, so there is no refraction.


What happens to the ray of light when it goes straight into the prism along the normal?

A ray of light, no matter what its wavelength is, entering one face of the prism along the normal, continues along the same direction straight into the glass, just as it does when it enters a window-pane or any other medium along the normal. Since the faces of the prism are not parallel, however, the ray of light does not approach the next face along the normal, and it refracts there as it traverses the glass/air interface. There, the angle of refraction depends slightly on the wavelength, so the colors spread somewhat as they cross that boundary. If the faces of the window-pane were not parallel, then most of the things you see through the window would have pretty colored bands around it. It would be a total nuisance.

Related Questions

When angle of incidence is zero?

When the angle of incidence is zero, the incident ray is perpendicular to the surface. This means the light ray travels straight along the normal and does not refract or bend. This phenomena is known as normal incidence.


When light waves are travelling through a slower medium they move which way towards the normal?

away from the normal


Why does a swimming pool look not as deep as it actually is?

The rays of light refract from water to the air so they refract away from the normal and this means that the bottom of the pool seems less deep than it is.


What happens to a ray of light that slows down when it hits a new medium at an angle?

When a ray of light slows down as it enters a new medium at an angle, it also changes direction. This change in speed and direction is called refraction. The amount by which the light bends depends on the difference in the speed of light between the two media.


Do lenses refract light?

when light falls from air on lens it undergoes refraction as lens is denser than air light on entering lens move towards normal and is bent and while leaving moves away from normal


Why does the wave of light bend toward the normal as it enters water?

The wave of light bends toward the normal as it enters water due to the change in speed of light. Light travels slower in water than in air, causing it to refract towards the normal. This bending of light is governed by Snell's Law.


Is light refracted hen it goes through the lens in a normal eye?

That's how lenses work. If the light didn't refract, there would be no value to having a lens.


Can opaque substances refract light?

No, opaque substances do not refract light. Refraction occurs when light passes through a transparent medium and changes speed, causing the light to bend. Opaque substances do not allow light to pass through them, so there is no refraction.


What happens to the ray of light when it goes straight into the prism along the normal?

A ray of light, no matter what its wavelength is, entering one face of the prism along the normal, continues along the same direction straight into the glass, just as it does when it enters a window-pane or any other medium along the normal. Since the faces of the prism are not parallel, however, the ray of light does not approach the next face along the normal, and it refracts there as it traverses the glass/air interface. There, the angle of refraction depends slightly on the wavelength, so the colors spread somewhat as they cross that boundary. If the faces of the window-pane were not parallel, then most of the things you see through the window would have pretty colored bands around it. It would be a total nuisance.


Do windows refract light?

Yes, windows can refract light. When light passes through a window, the change in speed and direction of the light can cause it to bend or refract. This is why you might see rainbows or colors appear when light passes through a window.


Does a lens refract light?

a lens will refract light. a mirror will reflect the light.


Do light waves travel towards or away when travelling through a slower medium?

towards the normal