Question

What happens when light waves travel from air through a solid?

the light waves will speed up in the solid medium and bend
the light waves will move in a straight line
the light waves will slow down in the solid medium and bend
the light waves will move in a zigzag line

Answer 1

When light waves travel from air into a solid medium, the correct description is:

**The light waves will slow down in the solid medium and bend.**

This occurs due to the difference in density and refractive index between the two media. When light enters a denser medium (like a solid from air), its speed decreases, and it bends towards the normal line (the line perpendicular to the boundary at the point of incidence), which corresponds to the laws of refraction described by Snell's Law.