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Calculators/Snell's Law
Waves & Optics

Snell's Law Calculator

Calculate refraction angle, find the critical angle for total internal reflection, and look up refractive indices for common materials. Live ray diagram updates instantly.

n₁sinθ₁ = n₂sinθ₂
Quick examples
Ray diagram
Enter angle of incidence (0–89°) to calculate.

Snell's Law — key equations

Snell's Law
n₁sinθ₁ = n₂sinθ₂
Refraction angle
θ₂ = arcsin(n₁sinθ₁/n₂)
Critical angle
θ_c = arcsin(n₂/n₁)
Refractive index
n = c/v (c = speed of light)
Relative index
n₁₂ = n₁/n₂
TIR condition
θ > θ_c when n₁ > n₂