When light passes from one transparent medium to another transparent medium that has a different refractive index, the light wave bends. This is called __________.

The phenomenon described occurs when light transitions between two different transparent media, each with its own refractive index. This bending of light is known as refraction. Refraction happens due to the change in speed of light as it moves from one medium to another; light travels more slowly in denser materials compared to less dense ones. The amount of bending is governed by Snell's Law, which relates the angle of incidence to the angle of refraction based on the refractive indices of the two media.

Understanding refraction is crucial in fiber optics as it explains how light is guided through optical fibers and how it behaves at interfaces. This principle allows for the efficient transmission of signals over long distances with minimal loss.

Other terms such as reflection and mirroring refer to light bouncing back from a surface rather than bending due to a change in medium. Faraday reflection has more to do with magnetic fields affecting the polarization of light than with the basic bending of light at boundaries between media. Thus, refraction specifically describes the change in direction of the light wave as it travels from one medium to another with different optical densities.