WW2010
University of Illinois

WW2010
 
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Online Guides
 
  introduction
 
> meteorology
 
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Meteorology
 
  introduction
 
  air masses, fronts
 
  clouds, precipitation
 
  el nino
 
  forces, winds
 
  hurricanes
 
  hydrologic cycle
 
> light, optics
 
  midlatitude cyclones
 
  severe storms
 
  weather forecasting

Light, Optics
 
  introduction
 
> mechanisms
 
  air, dust, haze
 
  ice crystals
 
  water droplets

mechanisms
 
  reflection
 
  scattering
 
> refraction
 
  diffraction

Refraction
 
  more to less dense
 
> less to more dense

User Interface
 
  graphics
> text

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Refraction of Light
as it passes from less dense to more dense mediums

When light passes from a less dense to a more dense substance, (for example passing from air into water), the light is refracted (or bent) towards the normal.

The normal is a line perpendicular (forming a 90 degree angle) to the boundary between the two substances. The bending occurs because light travels more slowly in a denser medium.

A demonstration of refraction can be conducted at home in a dark room. All that is needed is a flashlight, a clear glass filled with water and a small mirror.


Figure adapted from Ahrens, 1994
  • Figure (a): Shine the light directly into the glass. If the light strikes the water straight on (or parallel to the normal), no bending occurs and it simply passes directly into the water undisturbed, leaving only a straight beam of light all the way to the bottom of the glass.

  • Figure (b): Shine the light into the glass at an angle. As the light enters the water, it is refracted. Since the light is passing from air (less dense) into water (more dense), it is bent towards the normal. The beam of light would appear to bend at the surface of the water.

  • Figure (c): Place a mirror at the bottom of the glass of water and again shine the light into the glass of water at an angle. As light initially enters the water, it is refracted as in figure (b) and then reflected off the mirror (at the bottom of the glass). Upon exiting the water, the light is bent away from the normal as it passes from water (more dense) and into air (less dense). The light would leave the flashlight, bend at the surface of the water, reflect off the mirror at the bottom of the glass and move towards the surface, where it would bend outward at the same angle it bent in on the way in.



more to less dense
Terms for using data resources. CD-ROM available.
Credits and Acknowledgments for WW2010.
Department of Atmospheric Sciences (DAS) at
the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

mechanisms