1 Answer
Snell's Law is based on the principle of wavefront continuity and Huygens' principle. It describes how light bends when it passes from one medium to another due to a change in speed. The law is mathematically expressed as:
\[
n_1 \sin \theta_1 = n_2 \sin \theta_2
\]
where:
Foundational Principles:
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\[
n_1 \sin \theta_1 = n_2 \sin \theta_2
\]
where:
- \( n_1 \) and \( n_2 \) are the refractive indices of the two media,
- \( \theta_1 \) is the angle of incidence,
- \( \theta_2 \) is the angle of refraction.
Foundational Principles:
- Huygens' Principle: Each point on a wavefront acts as a secondary wave source, and the new wavefront is the envelope of these secondary waves. This explains how the direction of light changes when entering a different medium.
- Fermat's Principle (Principle of Least Time): Light follows the path that takes the least time when traveling between two points. This principle leads to the derivation of Snell’s Law by considering the varying speed of light in different media.
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