What is the definition of Refraction?

Refraction is defined as the bending of light as it transitions from one medium to another, such as from air into water. This phenomenon occurs because light travels at different speeds in different materials. When light enters a denser medium, like water or glass, it slows down and bends towards the normal line (an imaginary line perpendicular to the surface at the point of incidence). Conversely, when light exits to a less dense medium, it speeds up and bends away from the normal line. Understanding refraction is crucial in various applications, including the design of lenses in glasses and cameras, optical instruments, and even in natural phenomena like rainbows.

The other definitions, while related to light, describe distinct processes. For instance, the splitting of light into its component colors pertains to dispersion, while scattering involves the diffusion of light in multiple directions due to particles in a medium. Reflection refers to the bouncing back of light when it hits a surface, which is separate from the bending of light that occurs during refraction.