Does the incidence angle and refraction angle have to add up to 90

applestrudle · Jan 26, 2014

does the incidence angle and refraction angle have to add up to 90

I'm trying to figure out the geometry of thin film refraction!

nasu · Jan 26, 2014

Not in general. They don't have to.
They do add up to 90 degrees when the angle of incidence is the Brewster angle and the reflected light is fully polarized.

sophiecentaur · Jan 26, 2014

applestrudle said:

does the incidence angle and refraction angle have to add up to 90

I'm trying to figure out the geometry of thin film refraction!

Where did you read anything to that effect? Snells law doesn't lead to that general conclusion, does it? Are you referring to a certain, special situation?

Does the incidence angle and refraction angle have to add up to 90

Discussion

Similar threads

High School Does ripple frequency affect refraction angle and wave speed?

Graduate Feynman's Lectures Refraction Angle question

When the incidence angle is equal to the angle of refraction

Graduate Why does a complex refractive index in conductors make refraction angle approach π/2?

Undergrad Calculating the incidence angle of the Sun

Refraction angle for shooting a dolphin with a dart gun

Finding the incidence angle for refraction

Ray entering prism AC won't exit through surface AB at what incidence angle?

Why is the angle ABO equal to the refraction angle in a glass sphere TIR problem?

Calculating Incidence Angle for Tilted Plate and Light Source