*x Why does light refract when it encounters the glass in a lens?

Question

A
because it speeds up, which causes it to bend
1×

because it slows down, which causes it to bend

C
because it hits a dense medium, which causes it to bounce off

D
because it gets absorbed, which causes it to lessen in intensity

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

B: because it slows down, which causes it to bend.

When light passes from one medium to another (for example, from air into glass), its speed changes due to the different optical densities of the materials. In this case, light slows down as it enters the denser medium (glass), which causes it to bend at the interface between the two materials. This bending of light is known as refraction.