Question

What happens to the angle of refraction as the angle of incidence increases?

Answer 1

Hint: In the given question we have to use the Snell’s Law to find the answer. Refraction is defined as the natural phenomenon where when a ray of light falls into a transparent or translucent object bends with respect to the normal of the plane of incidence.

Complete step by step answer:
Refraction is defined as the natural phenomenon where when a ray of light falls into a transparent or translucent object bends with respect to the normal of the plane of incidence.
The refraction varies with medium and the angle of incidence of the ray at which it strikes the surface of the refracting surface.
From the Snell’s Law of refraction we get,
${\mu _1}\sin i = {\mu _2}\sin r$
The variables are,
${\mu _1}$ and ${\mu _2}$ are the refractive index of two mediums.
$i$ is the angle of incidence and $r$ is the angle of refraction.
From the given relation, it is clear that when the value of angle of incidence $i$ increases then the angle of refraction $r$ also increases.

Additional information:
When the incident ray is at a rarer medium then the refractive ray of light bends towards the normal.
Again, When the incident ray is at denser medium then the refractive ray of light bends away from the normal.

Note: It must be noted that the when the refraction of light occurs from rarer medium to denser medium then the angle of incidence is greater than angle of refraction whereas when the refraction occurs from denser to rarer medium then the angle of refraction is greater than angle of incidence. The angles are considered with respect to the normal of the plane of refraction and incidence.