When light passes from a less refractive material to a more refractive material, how does the refracted ray bend relative to the normal?

• A. The refracted light bends toward the normal when light travels from a more refractive material to a less refractive material.
• B. The refracted light bends away from the normal when light travels from a less refractive material to a more refractive material.
• C. It splits into two rays.
• D. The refracted light bends toward the normal when light travels from a less refractive material to a more refractive material.

Answer: (D)

Light changes direction because its speed changes in different media. When light goes from a less refractive material (lower refractive index) into a more refractive material (higher refractive index), it slows down and bends toward the normal. This follows Snell’s law: n1 sin θ1 = n2 sin θ2. Since n2 is greater than n1, sin θ2 is smaller than sin θ1, so θ2 is smaller than θ1 and the refracted ray lies closer to the normal. The opposite situation—entering a less refractive medium—causes the ray to bend away from the normal. The ray does not split into two rays in standard refraction; that would only happen in special cases like birefringent materials.