What is define refraction?

Refraction is a phenomenon that occurs when light waves pass from one medium into another medium with a different density. This change in density causes the light waves to bend or change their direction. This bending of light is what we refer to as refraction.

The degree to which light bends depends on the angle at which the light enters the new medium and the difference in density between the two media. If the angle of incidence is perpendicular to the surface of the new medium, the light will not bend. However, if the angle of incidence is oblique, the light will bend towards or away from the normal (an imaginary line perpendicular to the surface of the new medium).

The amount of refraction is also determined by the refractive index of the media involved. The refractive index is a measure of how much a substance slows down the speed of light passing through it. The higher the refractive index, the greater the degree of refraction.

Refraction is responsible for many optical effects, such as the bending of light in lenses, the creation of mirages and the splitting of white light into a rainbow of colors. It also plays a crucial role in determining the behavior of light in a variety of settings, from cameras and telescopes to glasses and contact lenses.