Refraction 2

Light passing from one transparent material to another When light passes from material 1 of absolute refractive index n₁ to material 2 of absolute refractive index n₂ and if the angle to the normal in medium 1 is q₁ and that in medium 2 is q₂ then:

n1sinq1= n2sinq2

The refractive index of the interface is written as ₁n₂ where:

₁n₂ = sinq₂/sinq₂

This means that if light passes from water to air the refractive index of the interface is 1.5/1.33 = 1.13.