If the angle of incidence is equal to the critical angle, what is the angle of refraction?

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Q: If the angle of incidence is equal to the critical angle, what is the angle of refraction?

Solution: At the critical angle, the angle of refraction is 90°, meaning the refracted ray travels along the boundary.

Steps: 5

Step 1: Understand what the angle of incidence is. It is the angle between the incoming ray and the normal (an imaginary line perpendicular to the surface).
Step 2: Know what the critical angle is. The critical angle is the angle of incidence at which light cannot pass through the boundary and is instead reflected back.
Step 3: Recognize that when the angle of incidence equals the critical angle, the light is at the exact point where it can no longer refract into the second medium.
Step 4: Realize that at the critical angle, the angle of refraction becomes 90°. This means the refracted ray travels along the boundary between the two media.
Step 5: Conclude that if the angle of incidence is equal to the critical angle, the angle of refraction is 90°.