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Questions tagged [refraction]

Change in the direction of propagation of a wave when its transmitting medium changes. The tag does also apply to index of refraction.

Refraction is the change in the direction of propagation of a wave when its transmitting medium changes. The tag does also apply to index of refraction.

1607 questions
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Is there a theoretical maximum for refractive index?

May there be materials yet to be discovered which may have a higher refractive index than today's known materials (for wavelengths within the visible range)? Is there a theoretical limit for the refractive index of a material?
j-a
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Rainbows at other wavelengths

I'm curious as to whether or not it is possible to have a rainbow at wavelengths other than visible light. I'm familiar with Snell's refraction law and why it is that they occur, but now what about other wavelengths, such as radio, microwaves, or…
bjd2385
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Can two media have same refractive indices?

Can two mediums placed under same conditions* ever have same refractive indices? *Pressure, temperature,etc.
Harshal Gajjar
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Angle of refraction at minimum deviation of two different colours

I was thinking, if two separate light beams of red and violet colour are passed separately through an equilateral prism, such that the angle of deviation is minimum in both cases, will the angle of refraction inside the prism just simply be 30…
devb
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The refraction through hot air around a candle flame

Why the intensity of light is more around the region of hot air around the flame of candle in the shadow cast by the light from the collimated source ? Most of the articles mention it is due to the refraction of light through hot air around the…
Curious
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Is refraction sharp or smooth?

Refraction: light changes direction of propagation when entering a material with a different refractive index. Does the direction of propagation of light change sharply and almost instantaneously (as shown in the diagram) or smoothly?
SuperCiocia
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Refraction of Sound Waves and Longitudinal Waves

How can i prove that sound waves are longitudinal wave?Are there any simple experiment that can be done?
Snow
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Fermat's principle solving for angle of incidence

Snell's law can be derived from Fermat's principle, which states that the light travels the path which takes the least time. It finds the path by setting dT/dx=0 to arrive at n_1 sin θ_1= n_2 sin θ_2. Since there is this one equation with two…
Leon Chang
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Refraction coefficient for megahertz waves?

Given There are known refraction coefficients value for many materials, but for visible spectrum waves. I want to know refraction coefficient for megahertz radio waves, for example at 433 MHz. According to Wikipedia (related English article), the…
Stdugnd4ikbd
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Why is refraction so uniform?

Why is refraction so uniform? At the end of the day, all that is happening is a photon of light is hitting atoms of a material, say, glass slab and getting absorbed and re-emitted. How is it that the photon, which is "absorbed and re-emitted"…
Potato
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Refractive index of Gold

IOR of Gold is 0.47. How is it possible gold density is less than a vacuum? After all, physically, a gold ingot is denser than air, or am I wrong? Why index is 0.47? I'm confused.
Jo K
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Formation of a rainbow

Why the formation of rainbows require a total internal reflection on the part of light. I mean can't the rainbows be formed without it , simply through refraction by the water droplet at a suitable angle?
Arunabh
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Refraction when angle of incidence is equal to 0 degree

Ok i know that mathematically or by snell 's law it can be proved but i want to know that what is its physical significance? I mean why it does not refract at 0 degree?
user170363
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What does 'relative' mean when we talk about refractive index?

What does it mean to say, "the refractive index of medium $B$ relative to medium $A$"? Assume that in this case, medium $A$ is optically denser than medium $B$. I have difficulties trying to understand the word 'relative' in aforementioned quote.…
Sam Saravanan
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Refraction at parabolic surfaces

Why is it that we don't find discussion of refraction at parabolic surfaces while we find plenty of discussions of refraction at spherical, elliptic and hyperbolic surfaces? Could you please give any references that discuss at introductory level,…
Radhakrishnamurty P
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