Snell's Law (Cambridge (CIE) O Level Physics): Revision Note

Refractive Index & Snell's Law

Refractive Index

• The refractive index is a number which is related to the speed of light in the material (which is always less than the speed of light in a vacuum):

• The refractive index is a number that is always larger than 1 and is different for different materials

  • Objects which are more optically dense have a higher refractive index, eg. n is about 2.4 for diamond

  • Objects which are less optically dense have a lower refractive index, eg. n is about 1.5 for glass

• Since refractive index is a ratio, it has no units

Snell's Law

• When light enters a denser medium (such as glass) it slows down and bends towards the normal

  • How much the light bends depends on the density of the material

Angle of incidence i and angle of refraction r through a glass block

• If light travels from a less dense to a more dense medium (e.g. air to glass), r < i (bends towards the normal)

• If light travels from a more dense to a less dense medium (e.g. glass to air), r > i (bends away from the normal)

• The angles of incidence and refraction are related by an equation known as Snell's Law:

• Where:

  • n = the refractive index of the material

  • i = angle of incidence of the light (°)

  • r = angle of refraction of the light (°)

• 'Sin' is the trigonometric function 'sine' which is on a scientific calculator