Refraction Basics Quiz: Bending of Light & Speed Change

9th Grade

Reviewed by Ekaterina Yukhnovich

Ekaterina Yukhnovich, PhD |

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Ekaterina V. is a physicist and mathematics expert with a PhD in Physics and Mathematics and extensive experience working with advanced secondary and undergraduate-level content. She specializes in combinatorics, applied mathematics, and scientific writing, with a strong focus on accuracy and academic rigor.

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By Thames

Thames

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Quizzes Created: 10863 | Total Attempts: 9,689,207

| Questions: 20 | Updated: Mar 6, 2026

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1. Refraction is the bending of a wave when it:

Reflects off a surface

Enters a different medium and changes speed

Stops completely

Turns into a particle

Concept: Refraction is caused by a change in wave speed. Refraction happens because wave speed changes in a new medium. When the speed changes at a boundary, the wave’s direction changes as it enters the new material.

Explanation

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About This Quiz

$Refraction Basics Quiz: Bending Of Light & Speed Change - Quiz$

This quiz features 20 questions covering the basics of refraction, including how light bends and changes speed when passing through different materials. Understanding refraction is crucial for grasping concepts in physics and optics, allowing you to explore real-world applications like lenses and prisms. Students in Grade 9 will benefit from... see morereviewing key ideas such as the laws of refraction and refractive index. Engaging with this quiz will help you solidify your knowledge and prepare for more advanced topics in science.
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2. Light can refract when it goes from air into water.

True

False

Concept: Different media have different refractive indices. Air and water have different optical properties, so speed changes and the ray bends. This bending is the refraction you see at the air–water surface.

Explanation

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3. When light goes from air into water, it usually:

Speeds up and bends away from the normal

Slows down and bends toward the normal

Stops and bends randomly

Keeps the same speed and bends anyway

Concept: Higher refractive index means lower speed in the medium. Water has a higher refractive index than air, so light slows and bends toward the normal.

Explanation

Concept: Higher refractive index means lower speed in the medium. Water has a higher refractive index than air, so light slows and bends toward the normal.

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4. The line drawn perpendicular to a surface is called the ______.

Concept: The normal is the reference line for angles. Angles of incidence/refraction are measured from the normal. Using the normal keeps the angle definitions consistent for any surface orientation.

Explanation

Concept: The normal is the reference line for angles. Angles of incidence/refraction are measured from the normal. Using the normal keeps the angle definitions consistent for any surface orientation.

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5. The angle of incidence is measured between:

The ray and the surface

The incoming ray and the normal

The normal and the surface

The refracted ray and the surface

Concept: Incidence angle is defined from the normal. Incidence angle is from the normal. Measuring from the surface would give a different angle, so physics uses the normal by definition.

Explanation

Concept: Incidence angle is defined from the normal. Incidence angle is from the normal. Measuring from the surface would give a different angle, so physics uses the normal by definition.

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6. If light enters a medium where it travels faster, it bends away from the normal.

True

False

Concept: Speeding up causes bending away from the normal. Faster speed in the new medium corresponds to bending away from the normal.

Explanation

Concept: Speeding up causes bending away from the normal. Faster speed in the new medium corresponds to bending away from the normal.

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7. A pencil looks “broken” in a glass of water mainly because of:

Reflection

Diffraction

Refraction

Polarization

Concept: Refraction shifts where an object appears to be. Light changes direction at the air–water boundary, shifting the image.

Explanation

Concept: Refraction shifts where an object appears to be. Light changes direction at the air–water boundary, shifting the image.

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8. If a ray hits the boundary straight on (along the normal), the ray will:

Bend sharply

Not change direction

Reflect only

Disappear

Concept: Normal incidence gives no directional change. With incidence angle 0°, there is no bending.

Explanation

Concept: Normal incidence gives no directional change. With incidence angle 0°, there is no bending.

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9. Refraction can occur for waves other than light (like water waves).

True

False

Concept: Refraction applies to any wave that changes speed. Any wave that changes speed between regions can refract.

Explanation

Concept: Refraction applies to any wave that changes speed. Any wave that changes speed between regions can refract.

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10. Which is most likely to cause refraction of water waves?

A mirror

A change in water depth

A louder sound

A magnet

Concept: Water-wave speed depends on depth. Changing depth changes speed and direction.

Explanation

Concept: Water-wave speed depends on depth. Changing depth changes speed and direction.

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11. When light bends toward the normal, the refracted angle is ______ than the incident angle.

Concept: 'Toward the normal' means closer to the normal line. So the angle measured from the normal becomes smaller after refraction.

Explanation

Concept: 'Toward the normal' means closer to the normal line. So the angle measured from the normal becomes smaller after refraction.

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12. The main reason refraction happens is:

Light gets brighter

Light changes colour only

The wave speed changes at the boundary

The normal line moves

Concept: Different materials give different wave speeds. The change in speed at the boundary is what produces the change in direction.

Explanation

Concept: Different materials give different wave speeds. The change in speed at the boundary is what produces the change in direction.

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13. Light always bends toward the normal when entering a new medium.

True

False

Concept: Direction depends on whether light slows down or speeds up. It bends toward or away depending on whether it slows down or speeds up.

Explanation

Concept: Direction depends on whether light slows down or speeds up. It bends toward or away depending on whether it slows down or speeds up.

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14. Going from water to air, light usually:

Slows down and bends toward normal

Speeds up and bends away from normal

Stops and reflects

Speeds up and bends toward normal

Concept: Lower refractive index means higher speed. Air has a lower refractive index than water, so light speeds up and bends away.

Explanation

Concept: Lower refractive index means higher speed. Air has a lower refractive index than water, so light speeds up and bends away.

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15. Which situations involve refraction?

A straw looks bent in water

Swimming pool looks shallower than it is

Echo in a canyon

A prism spreading white light

Concept: Refraction changes direction due to speed changes. A, B, and D involve refraction; echo is reflection of sound.

Explanation

Concept: Refraction changes direction due to speed changes. A, B, and D involve refraction; echo is reflection of sound.

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16. A swimming pool often looks shallower because:

Light reflects and removes depth

Refracted rays reach your eyes from a shifted position

Water absorbs all light

Your eyes change shape

Concept: Apparent depth comes from refracted ray paths. Refraction changes where the bottom appears to be.

Explanation

Concept: Apparent depth comes from refracted ray paths. Refraction changes where the bottom appears to be.

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17. Refraction can change the direction of a wave, but it does not create energy.

True

False

Concept: Refraction is a direction change, not an energy source. Energy is conserved.

Explanation

Concept: Refraction is a direction change, not an energy source. Energy is conserved.

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18. Which term is most closely related to how much a material bends light?

Density only

Wavelength only

Refractive index

Loudness

Concept: Refractive index measures how much speed is reduced. A higher n generally means more bending for the same incident angle.

Explanation

Concept: Refractive index measures how much speed is reduced. A higher n generally means more bending for the same incident angle.

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19. Refractive index can be defined as n=___/v, where c is the speed of light in vacuum.

Concept: n compares speeds (vacuum vs medium). This definition shows that a larger n means a smaller speed v in the material.

Explanation

Concept: n compares speeds (vacuum vs medium). This definition shows that a larger n means a smaller speed v in the material.

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20. Best overall definition of refraction:

Light bouncing

Light spreading around edges

Light bending because its speed changes in a new medium

Light disappearing

Concept: Refraction = bending from speed change. Refraction occurs at boundaries whenever wave speed changes.

Explanation

Concept: Refraction = bending from speed change. Refraction occurs at boundaries whenever wave speed changes.

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Refraction is the bending of a wave when it:

Light can refract when it goes from air into water.

When light goes from air into water, it usually:

The line drawn perpendicular to a surface is called the ______.

The angle of incidence is measured between:

If light enters a medium where it travels faster, it bends away from...

A pencil looks “broken” in a glass of water mainly because of:

If a ray hits the boundary straight on (along the normal), the ray...

Refraction can occur for waves other than light (like water waves).

Which is most likely to cause refraction of water waves?

When light bends toward the normal, the refracted angle is ______ than...

The main reason refraction happens is:

Light always bends toward the normal when entering a new medium.

Going from water to air, light usually:

Which situations involve refraction?

A swimming pool often looks shallower because:

Refraction can change the direction of a wave, but it does not create...

Which term is most closely related to how much a material bends light?

Refractive index can be defined as n=___/v, where c is the speed of...

Best overall definition of refraction:

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