Snell's law and General Relativity

[avery]

hi

I understand that Snell's law describe the relationship between the angles of incidence and refraction, when referring to light passing different isotropic media.

someone told me that Snell's law describe also the curvature of space time in General Relativity? is that true? if not what are the laws or equations used to describe curvature of space-time?

thank you in advance

 

[Mentz114]

hi

I understand that Snell's law describe the relationship between the angles of incidence and refraction, when referring to light passing different isotropic media.

someone told me that Snell's law describe also the curvature of space time in General Relativity? is that true? if not what are the laws or equations used to describe curvature of space-time?

thank you in advance

It is only an approximate match. In weak fields Snell's law will give the same predictions as GR but it is only to first order.

This page

http://mathpages.com/rr/s8-04/8-04.htm

sums it up well.

 

[avery]

thank you Mentz114 for your help