Refraction is the bending of waves caused by a change in their speed when they move from one medium to another. When the light waves move into something more dense they slow down and bend, such as moving from space to air or air through water as below. The normal ray (straight ray) is going into the water and as a result as a change in their speed when they move from one medium to another, the ray bends (angled ray), refraction.
 
 





 
 

Raindrops at the left help form rainbows on the right through refraction.

The light rays refract through the raindrop and form the rainbow.