The bending of light as it passes from one medium to another, such as from air to water, is caused by variations in the speed of light. This speed change occurs because light interacts differently with the atoms and molecules of different materials. For example, light travels slower in water than in air, causing a noticeable bend when a beam of light enters a water surface at an angle.
This phenomenon is fundamental to optics and has numerous applications. Eyeglasses, microscopes, and telescopes all rely on this bending of light to function. Understanding this principle was crucial for the development of modern optics and continues to be essential in fields like photography, telecommunications, and medical imaging. Historically, the study of this phenomenon played a critical role in understanding the nature of light itself.
