Ordinary ray

{
  "id": "MLC-T-MET-007729",
  "term": "Ordinary ray",
  "field": "Meteorology and atmospheric science",
  "definition": "One of two plane-polarized rays of light created when unpolarized light enters an anisotropic crystal, a phenomenon known as birefringence. The ordinary ray propagates through the medium in a way that obeys Snell's law of refraction, with a refractive index that remains constant regardless of its direction. In contrast, the extraordinary ray's speed and refractive index depend on its direction of travel relative to the crystal's optic axis.",
  "synonyms": [
    "ordinary wave"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/meteorology/ordinary-ray/"
}