Angle of Incidence Calculator

Calculate the angle of incidence for optical, solar, and wave applications

Angle between incident ray and surface normal
First medium (e.g., air ≈ 1.0)
Second medium (e.g., glass ≈ 1.5)

Understanding Angle of Incidence

Key Concepts

1. Physical Properties

  • Surface normal
  • Incident ray
  • Reflected ray
  • Refracted ray

2. Applications

  • Optical systems
  • Solar panels
  • Wave propagation
  • Material interfaces

Common Applications

Application Critical Angles Considerations
Solar Panels 30-45° Latitude, seasonal variation
Fiber Optics ≈ 42° Total internal reflection
Antireflective Coatings 0° Normal incidence
Radar Systems Variable Target detection angle

Design Tips

Important considerations for angle calculations:

  • Surface orientation
  • Material properties
  • Environmental factors
  • System efficiency
  • Measurement accuracy