Free Snell's Law Calculator

Calculate the angle of refraction using Snell's law: n1*sin(theta1) = n2*sin(theta2).

°

Angle of Refraction

19.47 °

Angle of Refraction vs Refractive Index 1

Snell's Law

Snell's law describes how light bends when passing between media with different refractive indices.

Formula

n1 * sin(theta1) = n2 * sin(theta2)

Light bends toward the normal when entering a denser medium (higher n) and away from the normal when entering a less dense medium.

Example Calculation

Light enters glass (n=1.5) from air (n=1) at 30 degrees.

  1. 01n1*sin(theta1) = n2*sin(theta2)
  2. 021*sin(30°) = 1.5*sin(theta2)
  3. 030.5 = 1.5*sin(theta2)
  4. 04sin(theta2) = 0.333
  5. 05theta2 = 19.47°

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