lysbrydningen

Lysbrydningen is a Danish term referring to the phenomenon of light refraction. It describes the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another, such as from air to water or from glass to air. This bending occurs because the speed of light changes as it enters a new medium. The degree of bending depends on the optical properties of the two media involved, specifically their refractive indices. When light enters a denser medium, it slows down and bends towards the normal (an imaginary line perpendicular to the surface). Conversely, when light exits a denser medium into a less dense one, it speeds up and bends away from the normal.

This principle is fundamental to how lenses work, enabling the formation of images in cameras, telescopes, and the human eye. Eyeglasses and contact lenses correct vision by manipulating the path of light entering the eye. Lysbrydningen also explains everyday optical illusions, like the apparent bending of a straw in a glass of water or the shimmering effect seen above hot surfaces. The mathematical description of lysbrydningen is governed by Snell's Law, which relates the angles of incidence and refraction to the refractive indices of the two media. Understanding lysbrydningen is crucial in fields such as optics, physics, and engineering.