Incident light moves through liquid water ( 1.33) and passes through an interface between water and glass ( 1.52) at some angle other than the normal to the interface. Which of the following is true of the refracted beam?

A. It does not deviate from the incident path.
B. It bends away from the normal to the interface.
C. It bends towards the normal to the interface.

C. It bends towards the normal to the interface.

Explanation:

Given:

Refractive index of water (μ₁) = 1.33

Refractive index of glass (μ₂) = 1.52

Light is incident at an angle to the normal.

In order to know the direction of refracted ray, we have to use the laws of refraction.

As per the law, when a light travels from an optically rarer medium to optically denser medium, the light bends towards the normal after refraction at the interface.

The refractive index gives the measure of the nature of the medium.

A denser medium has higher refractive index.

So, glass, having greater refractive index, is denser medium and water is a rarer medium. Light is traveling from water towards glass. So, it will bend towards the normal to the interface.

Therefore, option (C) is correct.