22.1 Reflection and Refraction

Chad's General Physics Videos
Course Menu
Chad's Master Courses

General Chemistry

Organic Chemistry

ACS OChem Refresher

General Physics

High School Chemistry

Chad's Free Courses

General Chemistry

Organic Chemistry

General Physics

Biochemistry

Physical Chemistry

High School Chemistry

Chad's General Physics Master Course

Quizzes, Study Guides, Chapter Tests, Equation Cheat Sheets, and More!

Learn More
youtube-video-thumbnail

Previous Lesson

Next Lesson

Reflection and Refraction

REFLECTION AND REFRACTION
Law of Reflection θincidence = θreflection
Index of Reflection n = c / v        c = speed of light in a vacuum
                     v = speed of light in a medium

n = λ0 / λn      c = wavelength in a vacuum
                     v = wavelength in a medium

 • As light is transmitted from one medium to another, the speed and wavelength change, but the frequency and ‘color’ do not change.
Snell's Law of
Reflection 		n1 sin θ1 = n2 sin θ2
Total Internal
Reflection 		sin θcritical = n2 / n1

• Only possible when n1 > n2
Dispersion • The angle of refraction varies with wavelength.
• Usually, n and λ are inversely related.