angle of deviation

American  

noun

Optics.

1. the angle equal to the difference between the angle of incidence and the angle of refraction of a ray of light passing through the surface between one medium and another of different refractive index.

---

angle of deviation British  

noun

1. the angle between the direction of the refracted ray and the direction of the incident ray when a ray of light passes from one medium to another

---

Etymology

Origin of angle of deviation

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

Those cases are, of course, more remarkable where this is not the case; however, on close investigation those cases are more frequent where the angle of deviation is about the same size or smaller than the squint angle, and is fixed with a part of the retina which undoubtedly belongs to the common visual field.

From Project Gutenberg

Its lesser angle of deviation from the tracheal axis.

From Project Gutenberg

But the angle c o c′ must be added to p o a″, in consequence of the motion of the mirror, or the angle of deviation will be a o a″ + c o c′; or a o a″ + c o c′ = d.

From Project Gutenberg

At a greater distance the angle of deviation becomes less.

From Project Gutenberg