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Change in speed of light

Light does not travel at 3.0 x 108 m/s unless it is in a vacuum. In air, water, glass and diamonds it travels more slowly and bends as it changes from one medium to another. Diamonds slow the light a great deal. That's why the can appear to sparkle as the light bounces around inside.

Light rays change path during refraction due to the change in density of the material. This can most easily be seen when looking at a stick sitting in water. The stick appears to bend.

As light travels in air it can travel faster than it can travel in water. When the ray of light hits the water at an angle it tends to bend down towards the perpendicular line to the surface of the water.

If light travels from a more dense to a less dense medium its speed will increase. The light beam, instead of traveling in a straight line as it exits the denser medium will bend away from the perpendicular.

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Q: Why a light ray changes its path during refraction?
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