Refraction from air into glass (n = 1.5) at 30°

Answer: angle of refraction θ₂ = 19.471°.

What we know

  • Refractive index n₁ (incident): 1
  • Angle of incidence θ₁: 30°
  • Refractive index n₂ (refracting): 1.5

Step by step

Given
Refractive index n₁ (incident) = 1, Angle of incidence θ₁ = 30°, Refractive index n₂ (refracting) = 1.5
Formula
n₁ · sin(θ₁) = n₂ · sin(θ₂)
Result
Angle of refraction θ₂ = 19.471°

All results

Angle of refraction θ₂19.471°

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The physics

Snell's law describes how light bends when it crosses from one transparent material into another: the product of refractive index and the sine of the angle stays the same on both sides. Light entering a denser medium (higher index) bends toward the normal; entering a lighter one, it bends away.