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refraction snells law
A LevelPhysics~4 min read
Overview
This lesson explores the phenomenon of refraction, where light changes direction as it passes from one medium to another. We will delve into the underlying causes of refraction and quantitatively describe this behavior using Snell's Law, a fundamental principle in optics.
Introduction to Refraction
Refraction is a ubiquitous phenomenon observed whenever light, or any wave, passes from one transparent medium into another. The most common example is a stick appearing bent when partially submerged in water. This bending occurs because the **speed of light changes** as it moves from one medium to ...
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Key Concepts
- Refraction: The bending of light as it passes from one transparent medium to another due to a change in its speed.
- Normal: An imaginary line drawn perpendicular to the surface at the point where the incident ray strikes.
- Angle of Incidence (i): The angle between the incident ray and the normal.
- Angle of Refraction (r): The angle between the refracted ray and the normal.
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Exam Tips
- →Always draw a clear diagram for refraction problems, explicitly showing the normal, incident ray, refracted ray, and the angles of incidence and refraction. This helps visualize the problem and avoid errors.
- →Remember that angles in Snell's Law (i and r) are always measured with respect to the normal, not the surface of the medium. Misinterpreting this is a common mistake.
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