ASVAB General Science Practice Test

The phenomenon described occurs when light travels from one medium to another, causing a change in speed and leading to bending of the light path. This bending of light is specifically known as refraction.

Refraction happens due to the difference in optical density between the two media. For example, when light moves from air (a less dense medium) into water (a denser medium), it slows down and bends towards the normal line—a line perpendicular to the boundary at the point of incidence. The change in speed and direction allows for various applications, such as the focusing of lenses and the creation of rainbows.

In contrast, convergence refers to the process where light rays are brought together to a point, while divergence describes the spreading of light rays. Reflection involves light bouncing off a surface rather than passing into another medium. Each of these terms involves different interactions of light, but refraction specifically pertains to the bending effect due to changes in speed between different substances.

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