6.05 Refraction

6.05

Refraction

What is refraction?

Refraction is when light is bent or changes direction as it travels through different media.

Example

Anything that light can pass through can bend the light. Glass, for example, can bend light. If the glass is in a special shape, it can make things appear closer and larger. That's how magnifying glasses, telescopes, camera lenses, and even Grandma's reading glasses work. They all refract light.

Take a look...

When the light travels through the air (the first medium) it is traveling in a straight line. When it strikes the water (the second medium), that light changes direction slightly and travels along a different straight line. When it leaves the water and meets the air again, the light is bent back to the original direction.

Take a look...

Refracted light makes objects appear to be larger or closer, as the light travels from one medium to another. In the first set of pictures, the glass in the magnifying glass bends the light to make the ladybug appear larger and closer than it is.

Multiple Choice

Why does light refract when it travels from one medium to another?

• Light refracts because it changes color in a new medium.

• Light refracts because it changes shape in a new medium.

• Light refracts because it changes direction in a new medium.

• Light refracts because it changes size in a new medium.

Multiple Choice

Why does the stamp appear larger than it actually is?

• When light hits the hand lens, it shrinks.

• When light hits the hand lens, it is absorbed.

• When light hits the hand lens, it is refracted.

• When light hits the hand lens, it is reflected.

Multiple Choice

Why is light not refracted on this wall?

• It is opaque, so light cannot pass through.

• It is transparent, so light can pass through.

• It is opaque, so light can pass through.

• It is transparent, so light cannot pass through.

Different Colors

Visible light is called white light. White light is made up of all the colors mixed together. We can see the colors when white light is refracted, like in a rainbow.

The prism separates the white light into all the colors. This is very similar to how a rainbow appears in the sky. The raindrops act like a million little prisms.

REMEMBER

Refraction is the bending of light when it leaves one medium and enters another. This idea can be used to make things appear to be in different places than they actually are, make things look bigger or smaller, and even make rainbows. That's the action of refraction. Refraction action!