Physics I / Geometric Optics: Reflection and Refraction
Practice question · True or false

The angle of incidence equals the angle of refraction when light passes into a denser medium.

Hints
  1. Reflection or refraction?
  2. Snell's law, not the mirror law.
Show the answer

False

Why

False. That is the law of reflection. Refraction bends the ray toward the normal on entering a denser medium, following Snell's law n1sinθ1=n2sinθ2n_1\sin\theta_1 = n_2\sin\theta_2, the angles are equal only at normal incidence or when the indices match.

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