What phenomenon describes the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another?

The bending of light as it passes from one medium to another is known as refraction. This phenomenon occurs due to a change in the speed of light as it moves between different materials, such as air and water. When light enters a medium with a different density, its speed changes, causing the light to change direction. This bending of the light path is governed by Snell's law, which relates the angle of incidence to the angle of refraction based on the indices of refraction of the two media involved.

In contrast, reflection involves light bouncing back from a surface rather than passing through it, while diffraction refers to the spreading of waves when they encounter an obstacle or aperture. Dispersion is the separation of light into its component colors due to varying degrees of refraction in different wavelengths, such as when light passes through a prism. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify why refraction specifically relates to the bending of light through different media.