angle of refraction

noun

, Physics, Optics.

1. the angle between a refracted ray and a line drawn normal to the interface between two media at the point of refraction.

angle of refraction

noun

1. the angle that a refracted beam of radiation makes with the normal to the surface between two media at the point of refraction

angle of refraction

1. The angle formed by the path of refracted light or other radiation and a line drawn perpendicular to the refracting surface at the point where the refraction occurred.

Word History and Origins

Origin of angle of refraction¹

First recorded in 1765–75

Example Sentences

Naval Observatory routinely uses 34 minutes of arc for the angle of refraction and 16 minutes of arc for the semidiameter of the sun's disc.

From Scientific American

The line NC is called the sine of the angle of incidence NDC, and EM the sine of the angle of refraction MDE.

From Project Gutenberg

They only appear to the eye that receives the broken rays at the proper angle of refraction.

From Project Gutenberg

If the increase of the angle of refraction were proportional to the diminution of wave-length for a prism of any material, the resulting spectrum would also be normal.

From Project Gutenberg

The men had ridden forward after me, and having also passed the angle of refraction saw no more of the phantom host.

From Project Gutenberg