General Science Flash Card Set 195284

Card 9 of 10
Refraction

Because different materials have different refractive indices, light changes speed when passing from one material to another. This causes the light to bend (refraction) at an angle that depends on the change in refractive index between the materials. The greater the difference, the higher the angle of refraction.

refractive index

The angle of refraction when a light enters a substance depends on the  change in __________ between the materials.