Snell's Law can be used to predict the deflection of light rays as they pass through linear media as long as the indexes of refraction and the geometry of the media are known. For example, the propagation of light through a prism results in the light ray being deflected depending on the shape and orientation of the prism. In most materials, the index of refraction varies with the frequency of the light, known as dispersion. Taking this into account, Snell's Law can be used to predict how a prism will disperse light into a spectrum. The discovery of this phenomenon when passing light through a prism is famously attributed to Isaac Newton.
sNell's law can bE uSED tO PREdIcT thE DEflection OF liGht RAys As thEy PaSS through lInear MedIa aS lONg As The indexes of rEfRACtiOn And thE GeometRy oF the media ArE knoWn. For examPle, the PRopaGatIon of Light thRouGH A PriSm resuLTS in thE ligHt ray BEing deFlected DepEnDing on THE sHapE anD oriEntaTiOn oF ThE prisM. in most MATeRIALs, the inDeX oF RefRacTion Varies with The fReQuenCy Of the lIGHT, kNoWN as DIsperSIon. taKIng ThiS Into Account, sneLl's LaW cAn be Used to PrEdict HoW a priSm WiLl DIsPersE LiGHt InTo a SPectrum. The DiscovERy of this pHENoMENON when PasSinG lIght THrOUGh a pRism is fAMousLY AttRibUTeD To IsaAc Newton.