When a ray of light travels from a rarer medium to a denser medium, it undergoes a phenomenon called refraction. Refraction is the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another.

Option 1 states that the ray of light slows down and bends away from the normal. This is not correct. When light travels from a rarer medium to a denser medium, it slows down, but it bends towards the normal, not away from it. The normal is an imaginary line that is perpendicular to the boundary between the two media.

Option 3 states that the ray of light speeds up and bends away from the normal. This is also incorrect. When light travels from a rarer medium to a denser medium, it slows down, it does not speed up.

Option 4 states that the ray of light speeds up and bends towards the normal. This is not the case. When light travels from a rarer medium to a denser medium, it slows down, not speeds up.

Therefore, the correct answer is option 2. When a ray of light travels from a rarer medium to a denser medium, it slows down and bends towards the normal.