Introduction

In the first part of this web quest we looked at the concept of refraction. Refraction is the change in direction of a light wave as it travels at an angle from one medium into another. Refraction occurs due to the change in speed of the light wave.

If light enters a more optically dense medium (from air into glass), the speed of the light ray decreases and the light ray bends towards the normal.

If light enters a less optically dense medium (from glass into air), the speed of the light ray increases and the light ray bends away from the normal.

But how much does the direction change? Is there a way to determine the amount of bending if you know the types of material that you are using and the angle of incidence? Or if you know the angle of incidence, the angle of refraction and one of the mediums, could you determine the other medium?