Refraktiivset

Refraktiivset is an Estonian adjective meaning related to refraction, the bending of light as it passes between media with different optical densities. In physics and optics, refraktiivset describes surfaces, materials, or phenomena that cause light rays to change direction. The amount of bending is governed by Snell's law: n1 sin(theta1) = n2 sin(theta2), where n1 and n2 are the refractive indices of the two media. Materials with higher refractive indices produce greater bending. Common refraktiivset materials include glass, many polymers, and water; their visible-wavelength indices are approximately 1.5 and 1.33, respectively, though values vary with wavelength.

Refraktiivset properties enable many technologies. Lenses in eyeglasses, cameras, and microscopes rely on refraction to form images. Prisms use refraction to disperse light into a spectrum. Optical fibers guide light through total internal reflection, made possible by refractive index contrasts between core and cladding. Dispersion, the wavelength dependence of refractive index, can lead to chromatic aberration or be exploited in spectroscopic devices.

In ophthalmology, refraktiivset terms describe refractive errors—myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism—that relate to the eye's focusing power. Corrective lenses or surgical procedures adjust the eye's effective refractive state. The term appears widely in Estonian scientific writing to denote optical bending and related phenomena.