Refraction of Light: Is There No Refraction?

AI Thread Summary
When light transitions between air and water, refraction typically occurs, altering its direction. If the light is traveling parallel to the normal, the angle of refraction is indeed 0 degrees, meaning there is no change in direction. This situation leads to the conclusion that the sine of the angle is zero, confirming no refraction takes place. The discussion highlights the specific conditions under which refraction is absent. Understanding these principles is essential for comprehending light behavior at different interfaces.
AkshayPitt
Messages
8
Reaction score
0
I understand that when light goes between air and water, refraction occurs (either towards or away from the normal). If the light going between air and water is already going in the same direction as the normal, is there no refraction (or a refraction angle of 0 degrees)?

Thank you.
 
Science news on Phys.org
AkshayPitt said:
same direction as the normal
What is the sin of zero?
 
sin(0) = 0

Thanks a lot for your help!
 
Thread 'Simple math model for a Particle Image Velocimetry system'

Thread 'Simple math model for a Particle Image Velocimetry system'

Hello togehter, I am new to this forum and hope this post followed all the guidelines here (I tried to summarized my issue as clean as possible, two pictures are attached). I would appreciate every help: I am doing research on a Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) system. For this I want to set a simple math model for the system. I hope you can help me out. Regarding this I have 2 main Questions. 1. I am trying to find a math model which is describing what is happening in a simple Particle...
View full post »
Thread 'How to model converging illumination through object plane (in ZEMAX)'

Thread 'How to model converging illumination through object plane (in ZEMAX)'

Hello community, I'm designing a projection lens system for a 35mm film projector in Zemax OpticStudio and struggling with the correct sequential mode setup for the illumination geometry. The light source is a Xenon short-arc lamp reflected by an ellipsoid mirror, which creates a converging cone with a 40.6 degree full angle that passes through the film gate. The film gate is my object plane, but the light doesn't diverge from it like a typical Lambertian source. Instead, the converging...
View full post »

Similar threads

Critical angle (symmetry of refraction) confusion
Replies
5
Views
2K
B Shouldn't the refracted ray be along the boundary here?
Replies
5
Views
2K
Refraction of Light: Myth or Reality?
Replies
41
Views
4K
I Prism Spectrometer Objective: Optics Question
Replies
9
Views
3K
Calculating the degree of polarization of reflecting light
Replies
2
Views
2K
I Light Refraction, Biconvex Lens, Diagram Help
Replies
9
Views
4K
Property of Light: Refraction & Angle of Bending
Replies
4
Views
1K
Optics: Huygens' principle and bending of light
Replies
2
Views
2K
Does Snell's Law accurately explain light refraction in water?
Replies
17
Views
2K
Refraction of light when traveling from air to glass
Replies
6
Views
1K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top