Refraction through a Semicylindrical Prism

index of refraction

1.5

angle of incidence

45°

A ray of light enters a half-cylinder through the flat side, where it is refracted. It exits perpendicular to the cylindrical surface so that it does not refract. You can vary the index of refraction of the prism

n

2

from 1 up to 2.5; the index of refraction

n

1

of the surroundings is assumed to be equal to 1. You can also vary the angle of incidence

θ

1

from 0° up to 90°. The angle of refraction

θ

2

is determined by Snell's law:

n

1

sin

θ

1

=

n

2

sin

θ

2

.