5 Fun Examples of Refraction You See Every Day

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🔍 Refraction is the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another.
• 🌊 The amount of bending depends on the change in speed of light and the angle of incidence.
• 🌈 Snell's Law describes the relationship between the angles of incidence and refraction: $n_1 \sin(\theta_1) = n_2 \sin(\theta_2)$, where $n$ is the refractive index.
• 💎 The refractive index of a material is the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to its speed in that material: $n = \frac{c}{v}$.
• ☀️ Examples include: bent straw in water, rainbows, shimmering effect on hot pavement, lenses focusing light, and apparent depth of objects in water.

🧪 Practice Quiz

1. What is refraction?
   1. A) The reflection of light.
   2. B) The bending of light as it passes from one medium to another.
   3. C) The absorption of light.
   4. D) The creation of light.
2. Why does a straw appear bent when placed in a glass of water?
   1. A) The straw is actually bent.
   2. B) Refraction of light as it passes from air to water.
   3. C) Reflection of light off the straw's surface.
   4. D) Diffraction of light around the straw.
3. Which of the following is an example of refraction?
   1. A) A mirror reflecting your image.
   2. B) A rainbow appearing after a rain shower.
   3. C) An echo in a canyon.
   4. D) A shadow on the ground.
4. What determines the amount of bending of light during refraction?
   1. A) Only the angle of incidence.
   2. B) Only the change in speed of light.
   3. C) Both the angle of incidence and the change in speed of light.
   4. D) The color of the light.
5. What is the refractive index?
   1. A) The speed of light in a vacuum.
   2. B) The angle of incidence.
   3. C) The ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to its speed in a medium.
   4. D) The wavelength of light.
6. According to Snell's Law, what is the relationship between the angles of incidence and refraction?
   1. A) They are always equal.
   2. B) They are inversely proportional.
   3. C) $n_1 \sin(\theta_1) = n_2 \sin(\theta_2)$.
   4. D) They are unrelated.
7. Why does the bottom of a swimming pool appear shallower than it actually is?
   1. A) The water is displacing the pool.
   2. B) Reflection of light off the pool floor.
   3. C) Refraction of light as it passes from water to air.
   4. D) The pool is actually shallower.