Curved glass lenses _______light.
a. refract
b. bend
c. magnify
d. both a and b

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the properties of curved glass lenses: they change the direction of light rays passing through them.
2. Recall that 'refraction' is the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another, which is exactly what lenses do.
3. Recognize that 'bending' light is another way to describe refraction, so both terms are related to the same physical phenomenon.
4. Consider the options: 'refract' means to bend light, 'bend' is a simpler term for the same process, and 'magnify' refers to making images appear larger, which is a result but not the fundamental action.
5. Conclude that the best answer includes both 'refract' and 'bend' since curved lenses do both, so the correct choice is the option that states both a and b.

Key Concepts

Refraction of Light

Refraction is the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another with a different density, such as air to glass. Curved glass lenses change the direction of light rays through refraction, focusing or dispersing them to form images.

Function of Curved Lenses

Curved lenses are designed to refract light in specific ways to magnify or reduce images. Convex lenses converge light rays to a focal point, while concave lenses diverge them, altering how we perceive objects.

Relationship Between Refraction and Bending

Bending of light is a physical description of refraction; when light changes direction due to refraction, it appears to bend. Thus, refraction and bending describe the same phenomenon in the context of lenses.