A ray of light traveling in air strikes the surface of water at an angle of inci

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Question: A ray of light traveling in air strikes the surface of water at an angle of incidence of 45 degrees. What is the angle of refraction?

Options:

Correct Answer: 45 degrees

Solution:

Using Snell\'s law, n1 * sin(i) = n2 * sin(r). For air (n1=1) and water (n2=1.33), we find r = 45 degrees.

A ray of light traveling in air strikes the surface of water at an angle of incidence of 45 degrees. What is the angle of refraction?

A ray of light traveling in air strikes the surface of water at an angle of incidence of 45 degrees. What is the angle of refraction?

Step 1: Identify the angle of incidence (i). In this case, it is given as 45 degrees.
Step 2: Identify the refractive indices. For air, n1 = 1, and for water, n2 = 1.33.
Step 3: Write down Snell's law formula: n1 * sin(i) = n2 * sin(r).
Step 4: Substitute the known values into the formula: 1 * sin(45 degrees) = 1.33 * sin(r).
Step 5: Calculate sin(45 degrees), which is approximately 0.7071.
Step 6: Rewrite the equation: 0.7071 = 1.33 * sin(r).
Step 7: Solve for sin(r) by dividing both sides by 1.33: sin(r) = 0.7071 / 1.33.
Step 8: Calculate sin(r), which is approximately 0.5315.
Step 9: Find the angle r by taking the inverse sine (arcsin) of 0.5315.
Step 10: The angle of refraction (r) is approximately 32 degrees.

Refraction – The bending of light as it passes from one medium to another due to a change in speed.
Snell's Law – A formula used to describe the relationship between the angles of incidence and refraction when light passes between two different media.
Index of Refraction – A dimensionless number that describes how fast light travels in a medium compared to vacuum.