Summarizing the Law of Refraction

Law of Refraction Summary

• The changing of a light ray’s direction when it passes through variations in matter is called refraction.
• The speed of light in vacuum \(c=2\text{.}\text{99792458}×{\text{10}}^{8}\phantom{\rule{0.25em}{0ex}}\text{m/s}\approx 3\text{.}\text{00}×{\text{10}}^{8}\phantom{\rule{0.25em}{0ex}}\text{m/s}.\)
• Index of refraction \(n=\cfrac{c}{v}\), where \(v\) is the speed of light in the material, \(c\) is the speed of light in vacuum, and \(n\) is the index of refraction.
• Snell’s law, the law of refraction, is stated in equation form as \({n}_{1}\phantom{\rule{0.25em}{0ex}}\text{sin}\phantom{\rule{0.25em}{0ex}}{\theta }_{1}={n}_{2}\phantom{\rule{0.25em}{0ex}}\text{sin}\phantom{\rule{0.25em}{0ex}}{\theta }_{2}\).

Glossary

refraction

changing of a light ray’s direction when it passes through variations in matter

index of refraction

for a material, the ratio of the speed of light in vacuum to that in the material