According to Snell's Law, what is the relationship between the indices of refraction and angles of incidence and refraction?

Study for the NEET Physics Exam with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question equipped with hints and detailed explanations. Prepare effectively for your exam!

Snell's Law describes the relationship between the angles of incidence and refraction when a wave passes from one medium to another, and it is expressed as the ratio of the sine of the angles to the indices of refraction of the two media involved.

In this context, the law states that the product of the index of refraction of the first medium and the sine of the angle of incidence is equal to the product of the index of refraction of the second medium and the sine of the angle of refraction. This is mathematically represented as:

μ₁ sin(θ₁) = μ₂ sin(θ₂)

This formula captures how light bends when it enters a different medium, with μ₁ being the index of refraction for the first medium, μ₂ for the second, θ₁ for the angle of incidence, and θ₂ for the angle of refraction.

In the other options, the relationships presented do not appropriately describe this principle. Some use incorrect functions (like tangent) that are not part of the derivation from the fundamental properties of refraction, which could lead to misunderstanding the behavior of light at the interface of two different media. Thus, the correct relationship provided here aligns perfectly with Snell

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