What is the term for the "bending of light"?

The term that describes the "bending of light" is refraction. This phenomenon occurs when light passes from one medium to another, such as from air into water or through glass. As light moves between mediums with different densities, its speed changes, leading to a change in direction. This bending effect causes various optical phenomena, such as the apparent displacement of objects seen through water or the formation of rainbows when light disperses through raindrops.

In contrast, dispersion refers to the separation of light into its component colors, like how a prism breaks white light into a spectrum. Emergence describes the process of light exiting a medium at an angle, typically after passing through a lens. Incidence relates to the angle at which light strikes a surface but does not specifically address the bending of light itself. Thus, refraction is the most accurate choice for defining the bending of light.