🔋college physics i – introduction review

key term - Law of refraction

Definition

The Law of Refraction, or Snell's Law, describes how light bends when it passes from one medium into another. It is mathematically expressed as $n_1 \sin(\theta_1) = n_2 \sin(\theta_2)$, where $n$ is the refractive index and $\theta$ is the angle of incidence or refraction.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. Snell's Law formula is $n_1 \sin(\theta_1) = n_2 \sin(\theta_2)$.
  2. The refractive index ($n$) is a measure of how much light slows down in a medium.
  3. Angles in Snell's Law are measured from the normal (a line perpendicular to the surface).
  4. When light enters a denser medium (higher refractive index), it bends towards the normal.
  5. Total internal reflection occurs when light tries to move from a denser to a less dense medium at an angle greater than the critical angle.

Review Questions

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