Refraction

• if entering a denser material...

  it bends towards the normal
• if entering a less dense material...

  it bends away from the normal
• what does wavelength affect

  how substances will absorb, transmit, refract or reflect certain EM waves
• Glass will...

  transmit/refract visible light, absorb UV radiation, reflect IR radiation
• when light enters a denser medium...

  it slows down

  shorter wavelengths slow down more than longer wavelengths
• why does dispersion occur of white light into a prism

  the different wavelengths refract a different amount - spreading out creating a rainbow effect
• when refracting...


  speed decreases and wavelength decreases - horizontal lines become closer together