1. What is the Angle of Refraction?

The angle of refraction is the angle between the refracted ray and the normal to the interface between two media. It's determined by Snell's Law, which relates the angles of incidence and refraction to the refractive indices of the two media.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses Snell's Law:

Where:

• \( r \) — Angle of refraction (degrees)
• \( i \) — Angle of incidence (degrees)
• \( n \) — Refractive index (dimensionless)

Explanation: When light passes from one medium to another, it bends according to the ratio of the refractive indices. The calculator computes this bending angle.

3. Importance of Refraction Calculation

Details: Understanding refraction is crucial in optics, lens design, fiber optics, and many natural phenomena like rainbows and mirages.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter angle of incidence (0-90 degrees) and refractive index (≥1). The calculator will show the refracted angle or indicate total internal reflection if applicable.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What happens when the angle of refraction would be greater than 90°?
A: This indicates total internal reflection - no refraction occurs, and all light is reflected back into the first medium.

Q2: What are typical refractive index values?
A: Air ≈1.0, Water ≈1.33, Glass ≈1.5, Diamond ≈2.4. The second medium is assumed to be air (n=1) in this calculator.

Q3: Does refraction depend on wavelength?
A: Yes, this is called dispersion. Different wavelengths refract slightly differently, which is how prisms create rainbows.

Q4: What's the critical angle?
A: The angle of incidence where refraction angle becomes 90°. Calculated as arcsin(1/n).

Q5: Can this be used for sound waves?
A: Yes, Snell's Law applies to any wave phenomenon, including sound waves passing between different media.