What is Snell's Law of Refraction?

Q: What is Snell's Law of Refraction?


A: Snell's Law of Refraction is the scientific law of the refraction of light or other waves. In optics, it states that when light passes through different materials, the ratio between the sines of the incidence and refraction angles does not change.

Q: How can Snell's Law be proved?


A: Snell's Law can be proved by Fermat's Principle, which states that light travels along a path which takes the least time.

Q: What is Fermat's Principle?


A: Fermat's Principle states that light travels along a path which takes the least time.

Q: What are n and v in Snell's Law?


A: n is the refractive index of a medium and v is the velocity of light in that respective medium (measured in meters per second).

Q: What does c represent in Snell's Law?


A: c represents the velocity of light in a vacuum, which has an index of refraction equal to 1.

Q: How do you calculate velocity when a wave passes through material with an index of refraction n?


A: The velocity becomes c/n when a wave passes through material with an index of refraction n.

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