optics

Refraction & Snell's Law

Watch laser beams refract through a 3D glass block. Adjust incident angle and refractive indices to observe Snell's Law, total internal reflection, and critical angle with physically accurate ray optics.

Snell's Law

Both

When light crosses a boundary between media of different optical density, it changes speed and bends. The relationship is given by Snell's Law: n₁sin(θ₁) = n₂sin(θ₂). Total internal reflection occurs when light in a denser medium strikes the boundary at or above the critical angle.

Incident Angle45°

n₁ (incident)1.0

n₂ (transmitted)1.5

📐 Formulas

n_1 \sin\theta_1 = n_2 \sin\theta_2Refraction at a boundary

\theta_c = \sin^{-1}\left(\frac{n_2}{n_1}\right)Angle for total internal reflection

n = \frac{c}{v}Ratio of speed of light in vacuum to medium

📋 Syllabus

AQA3.3.2.2

EdexcelTopic 5

OCR4.4.1