Magnification Angle Calculator

How to Use This Calculator

1. Enter the angle of incidence (θ₁) in degrees (between 0 and 90). This is the angle at which light hits the boundary between two media.
2. Enter the index of refraction (n₁) for the first medium. This is a measure of how much the medium can bend light.
3. Enter the index of refraction (n₂) for the second medium.
4. Click the "Calculate" button to compute the magnification angle (θ₂).
5. The calculator will display the angle of refraction and show the calculation based on Snell's Law.

Understanding Snell's Law

Snell's Law describes how light changes direction as it passes from one medium to another. It is expressed as:

n₁ sin(θ₁) = n₂ sin(θ₂)

Where:

• n₁ is the index of refraction of the first medium
• θ₁ is the angle of incidence (angle between the incoming ray and the normal to the surface)
• n₂ is the index of refraction of the second medium
• θ₂ is the angle of refraction (the magnification angle)

Example

If light travels from air (n₁ ≈ 1.00) into water (n₂ ≈ 1.33) at an angle of incidence of 30°, the angle of refraction can be calculated as:

1.00 * sin(30°) = 1.33 * sin(θ₂)

sin(θ₂) = (1.00 * sin(30°)) / 1.33 ≈ 0.376

θ₂ = arcsin(0.376) ≈ 22.1°

Important Notes

If the calculated sin(θ₂) > 1, it means total internal reflection occurs and no refraction happens.