Which way does a light ray bend when it crosses the plane smooth surface of a dense transparent material (from air or a vacuum) at an angle to the perpendicular?
A) The light ray does not bend at all because the material is transparent.
B) The light ray bends toward the perpendicular.
C) The light ray bends so that it travels perpendicular to the surface.
D) The light ray bends away from the perpendicular.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When a light ray crosses from a less dense medium (like air or vacuum) into a denser transparent material at an angle, it bends toward the perpendicular due to the decrease in speed. This phenomenon is described by Snell's Law.

Which Way Does a Light Ray Bend When It Crosses