Angle of Incidence Calculator (Snell's Law)

Your details

Choose which unknown angle to calculate.
The angle you know (incidence or refraction, depending on the mode). Measured from the normal to the surface, not the surface itself. Range: 0 to 90 degrees.
°
Solved angleModerate angle
49.4459°

Angle of incidence or refraction, whichever was solved.

Refractive index n₁1.000273
Refractive index n₂1.52
Brewster's angle56.6521°
Total internal reflectionTotal internal reflection is not possible (n₁ ≤ n₂).
49.4459 °
Shallow<30Moderate30-60Steep60-85Grazing85+

Solved angle: 49.4459°

  • A refraction angle of 30.0000° in medium 2 corresponds to an incidence angle of 49.4459° in medium 1.
  • Light bends toward the normal when entering a denser medium (n₂ 1.5200 > n₁ 1.0003).
  • At Brewster's angle (56.65°), reflected light is completely polarised, useful in photography and LCD technology.

Next stepTry switching the solve mode to verify: the angles are related by Snell's Law and should be self-consistent.

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