angle of refraction

A Dictionary of Earth Sciences | 1999 | 390 words | Copyright

angle of refraction The angle between a refracted ray or wave and the normal to a refracting surface. The angle of refraction is related to the angle of incidence by Snell's law. A ray or wave entering a medium in which its speed is higher than in the medium it is leaving will deviate away from the normal, whereas when it enters a medium of lower speed it will deviate towards the normal.

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AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "angle of refraction." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "angle of refraction." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-angleofrefraction.html

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "angle of refraction." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-angleofrefraction.html

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