Explore the Bending Light: Refraction, Reflection & Prism
Aim a laser at water, glass or diamond, see reflection and refraction with angles, or split white light in a prism. Free, no signup, runs in your browser.
- Free to use
- No signup
- Nothing to install
- Runs in your browser
Illustration. Open the tool for the real thing.
See it in action
The Bending Light: Refraction, Reflection & Prism with sample data entered and the result showing.
What is the Bending Light: Refraction, Reflection & Prism?
Aim a laser at water, glass or diamond, see reflection and refraction with angles, or split white light in a prism. It runs in your browser, so a change to a setting or a drag on an object shows up at once.
Lenses, fibre optic cables, cameras, diamonds and rainbows all rely on refraction.
3 steps to your result
Open the tool and follow along. Nothing to install.
What you get
Light bends when it enters a new material.
n₁ sin θ₁ = n₂ sin θ₂ (Snell's law).
Beyond the critical angle light reflects completely.
Find the critical angle from glass to air.
Try diamond and water.
Switch to the prism and choose white light.
Used for
Pick one to see how it fits.
Physics learners
Physics students in middle school, high school and first-year university, teachers who want a quick demonstration for the projector, and anyone revising for exams.
Try it freeTeachers
For teachers: project the Bending Light: Refraction, Reflection & Prism on the board, let students predict the result, then run it together and test this: Try diamond and water. For students: change one thing at a time and write down what changes.
Try it freeHow it compares
A plain look at this tool next to the usual alternative.
| This simulation | Textbook diagram | |
|---|---|---|
| Interactive | Drag, tap and change settings | Fixed picture |
| Install | Nothing to install | Not needed |
| Cost | Free to use | Depends on the book |
Questions people ask
What is Snell's law?
It relates the angles of a light ray in two materials to their refractive indices: n₁ sin θ₁ = n₂ sin θ₂.
Why does a prism make a rainbow?
The refractive index depends on wavelength, so violet bends more than red.
Is the Bending Light: Refraction, Reflection & Prism free to use?
Yes. The Bending Light: Refraction, Reflection & Prism is free, needs no signup or download and runs in your web browser. It is part of the Physics group of AZRS simulations.
Does the Bending Light: Refraction, Reflection & Prism work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The Bending Light: Refraction, Reflection & Prism takes touch input as well as mouse input, so you can use its 5 adjustable settings with a finger. A larger screen makes the controls and graphs easier to read.
How do I use the Bending Light: Refraction, Reflection & Prism?
1. In the Bending Light: Refraction, Reflection & Prism, use the controls to change Top material n₁, Bottom material n₂ / prism, Custom n₂, Laser angle, Light colour. The simulation reacts instantly. 2. In the Bending Light: Refraction, Reflection & Prism, pick an option such as Two materials, Prism (rainbow), Air 1.00, Water 1.33 to switch modes or load an example. 3. Start with this experiment: Find the critical angle from glass to air. Drag any glowing handle, object or slider with your mouse or finger and the Bending Light: Refraction, Reflection & Prism responds in real time. 4. Change one setting at a time and watch which readout moves, then compare it with this idea: Light bends when it enters a new material.
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Try the Bending Light: Refraction, Reflection & Prism now
Aim a laser at water, glass or diamond, see reflection and refraction with angles, or. Free to use.
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