Why does light bend more through a denser medium?

Light bends more through a denser medium due to a phenomenon called refraction, which is the change in direction of light.

Refraction is a fundamental concept in physics, particularly in the study of optics. It occurs when light travels from one medium to another, causing a change in its speed and direction. The degree of bending, or refraction, is determined by the refractive index of the medium. The refractive index is a measure of how much the speed of light is reduced inside the medium compared to its speed in a vacuum.

When light enters a denser medium (like water or glass) from a less dense medium (like air), it slows down. This change in speed causes the light to change direction, a process known as bending. The denser the medium, the more the light slows down, and the more it bends. This is why light bends more through a denser medium.

The principle of refraction is governed by Snell's Law, which states that the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction is equivalent to the ratio of the velocity of light in the original medium to the velocity of light in the second medium. This law helps us to calculate the exact angle at which light will refract when it enters a denser medium.

In summary, the bending of light when it enters a denser medium is a result of the change in speed of light, which is governed by the refractive index of the medium. The denser the medium, the greater the change in speed, and hence, the greater the bending of light.