Does reflection accompany refraction in Snell's law?

[Seismic101]

If the the angle of incidence of an incident ray is less than (or equal to) the Critical Angle, the ray is refracted, but do we still get some reflection from this same incident ray?

 

[NascentOxygen]

If the the angle of incidence of an incident ray is less than (or equal to) the Critical Angle, the ray is refracted, but do we still get some reflection from this same incident ray?

Hi Seismic101.

Reflection like you see from a train window pane at night?

 

[Seismic101]

Hi Seismic101.

Reflection like you see from a train window pane at night?

I am not sure. I wasn't really speaking about light although same principles apply, I guess? Please let me explain more.

In my field (O&G Exploration) we send vibrations into the Earth, and when this energy encounters the interface between Earth layers it follows Snell's Law. My question is: when the ray hits the interface at angle less than or equal to the Critical, we get refraction, but do we get some reflected rays as well?

I like the analogy you used! Thanks for the nice welcome!

 

[blue_leaf77]

when the ray hits the interface at angle less than or equal to the Critical, we get refraction, but do we get some reflected rays as well?

In optics, when a ray of light hits an interface between two different media, reflection will always take place except for when the incident angle is equal to the Brewster angle and the incoming polarization lies in the incident plane. Since, the wave you are dealing with is of longitudinal waves where polarization is not relevant, I presume reflection will always take place regardless of any condition of the system.

 

[Seismic101]

Since, the wave you are dealing with is of longitudinal waves where polarization is not relevant

The vibrations (mechanical waves) we send into the Earth can be longitudinal (particle motion in the direction of wave propagation) or transverse (particle motion is perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation).

except for when the incident angle is equal to the Brewster angle and the incoming polarization lies in the incident plane

Do you think this is true for any medium/ wave type? In other words, do you think there is a Brewster angle in the case of mechanical waves propagating through Earth layers?

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

 

[davenn]

maybe this will help ?

cheers
Dave