Physics Laws & Theorems
Intermediate

Snell's Law

Light bends when passing between media of different refractive index.

Formula

n1sin⁡θ1=n2sin⁡θ2n_1 \sin\theta_1 = n_2 \sin\theta_2

Variables

nRefractive indices
\thetaAngles

Example

A straw in a glass of water looks bent because light refracts at the surface.

Did You Know?

Snell's law governs everything from eyeglasses to fiber-optic cables carrying the internet.

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