gen-define-snell-s-law-of-refraction-and-give-one-short-worked-e-fa00

Define Snell's law of refraction and give one short worked example.

# Snell's Law of Refraction ## Definition Snell's law describes how light bends when passing from one medium to another. It states: **n₁ sin θ₁ = n₂ sin θ₂** Where: - n₁ = refractive index of the first medium - θ₁ = angle of incidence (measured from the normal) - n₂ = refractive index of the second medium - θ₂ = angle of refraction (measured from the normal) ## Worked Example **Problem:** A light ray travels from air (n = 1.00) into water (n = 1.33) at an angle of 40° from the normal. Find the angle of refraction. **Solution:** Given: - n₁ = 1.00 (air) - θ₁ = 40° - n₂ = 1.33 (water) - θ₂ = ? Using Snell's law: n₁ sin θ₁ = n₂ sin θ₂ 1.00 × sin(40°) = 1.33 × sin θ₂ 0.643 = 1.33 × sin θ₂ sin θ₂ = 0.643/1.33 = 0.483 θ₂ = sin⁻¹(0.483) = **28.9°** The light bends toward the normal when entering the denser medium (water), refracting at 28.9° from the normal.