# Relation Between Critical Angle And Refractive Index

In Optics, The angle of incidence to which the angle of refraction is 90° is called the critical angle. The ratio of velocities of a light ray in the air to the given medium is a refractive index. Thus, the relation between the critical angle and refractive index can be established as the Critical angle is inversely proportional to the refractive index.

## Critical Angle And Refractive Index

The relationship between critical angle and refractive index can be mathematically written as –

 $SinC=\frac{1}{\mu _{b}^{a}}$

Where,

C is the critical angle.

μ is the refractive index of the medium.

a and b represent two medium in which light ray travels.

### Critical Angle And Refractive Index Formula

 Formula SI Unit Critical angle to Refractive index $SinC=\frac{1}{\mu _{b}^{a}}$ degree Refractive index to Critical angle $\mu _{b}^{a}=\frac{1}{sinC}$ No SI unit

## Critical angle and refractive index relation derivation

The relationship between critical angle and refractive index can be derived as –

### Consider a ray of light,

• Let the angle of incidence i be critical angle C
• Let the angle of refraction r=90º
• Refractive index of the rarer medium be μa
• Refractive index of the denser medium be μb

### Applying Snells Law

• $\frac{sin\;i}{sin\;r}=\frac{\mu _{a}}{\mu _{b}}$
• $\Rightarrow \mu _{b}sinC=\mu _{a}sin90^{0}$
• $\Rightarrow \frac{\mu _{b}}{\mu _{a}}=\frac{1}{sinC}$

Thus, we arrive at formula expressing the critical angle and refractive index relation –

$\mu _{b}^{a}=\frac{1}{sinC}$

Hope you understood the relation and conversion between the Critical Angle and Refractive Index in Optics.

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