Snell’s law

Table of Contents

Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics

Images & Videos

$figure showing refracted beams of light$

$How does refraction affect light and vision?$

$Figure 1: The law of refraction. Plane light wave at position AA′ in medium of index n and BB′ in medium of index n′ (see text).$ $law of refraction$

Read Next

Highway Night Traffic Portland, drive, driving, car, automobile.

What's the Difference Between Speed and Velocity?

Galaxy clusters like Abell 2744 can act as a natural cosmic lens, magnifying light from more distant, background objects through gravity. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope may be able to detect light from the first stars in the universe if they are gravitationally lensed by such clusters. (astronomy, space exploration, galaxies)

How Fast Is the Universe Expanding?

Abstract vector hi speed internet technology background

History of Technology Timeline

$Light refraction image with a cube. Prism$

How Is Light Both a Particle and a Wave?

Binary Computer Code, Binary Code, Internet, Technology, Password, Data

How Does Wi-Fi Work?

Discover

A tornado in rural Iowa sweeps dangerously near a farm. Weather storm

Why Does the United States Have More Tornadoes than Any Other Country?

Andrew Jackson delivering a speech while on his way to Washington, D.C., for his inauguration in 1829. From Harper's Weekly, 1881.

5 Remarkably Close U.S. Presidential Elections

Hemp (Cannabis sativa).

9 Mind-Altering Plants

Aphrodite. Greek mythology. Sculpture. Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love and beauty.

12 Greek Gods and Goddesses

United States Presidential Election of 2012. Mitt Romney. Official portrait of President Barack Obama in the Oval Office, Dec. 6, 2012 after his reelection Nov. 6, 2012. Official portrait Obama

10 Democrats Who Made History

Ruminant. Deer. Red deer. Cervus elaphus. Buck. Stag. Antlers.

9 of the World’s Deadliest Mammals

Alcoholic beverages bottles at Host 2013, international exhibition of the hospitality industry on OCTOBER 18, 2013 in Milan.

Why Is Alcohol Measured by Proof?

Snell’s law: Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Photos and Videos

$figure showing refracted beams of light$

$Figure 1: The law of refraction. Plane light wave at position AA′ in medium of index n and BB′ in medium of index n′ (see text).$

$law of refraction$

$How does refraction affect light and vision?$

See All Videos and Images →

Topics

refraction double refraction rainbow mirage refractive index halo atmospheric refraction

Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic

Key People

Willebrord Snell

Dutch astronomer and mathematician