What phenomenon causes the bending of light when it passes from one medium to another?

The bending of light when it passes from one medium to another is known as refraction. This phenomenon occurs due to a change in the speed of light as it moves between different materials, such as air to water or glass. When light enters a medium where its speed is different, the light wave changes direction; this change in direction is what we observe as bending.

The extent of the bending is determined by the indices of refraction of the two media involved and can be quantitatively described by Snell's Law. This principle explains how light is refracted more when it passes into a denser medium, leading to a sharper angle of bending.

Refraction is a fundamental concept in optics and is responsible for various phenomena such as the formation of rainbows, the apparent bending of objects underwater, and the functioning of lenses in glasses and cameras. Understanding this process is crucial for applications in physics and engineering, especially in designing optical devices.