Angle of refraction

Definition

The angle of refraction refers to the angle between a refracted ray and a line perpendicular to the surface it enters. It occurs when light passes from one medium into another, causing its direction to change.

Analogy

Imagine you are swimming in a pool and you see how your body appears bent at an angle when viewed from above the water's surface. This bending effect is similar to how light changes direction when it moves from one medium (like air) into another (like water).

Related terms

Angle of incidence: The angle of incidence is the initial angle formed by an incoming ray before it enters a new medium.

Snell's Law: Snell's law describes how light bends or refracts as it passes through different mediums. It states that 'the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction is constant for a given pair of media.'

Refractive index: The refractive index is a measure that indicates how much light slows down or speeds up when passing through different materials. It quantifies how much light bends as it enters a new medium.