What is the Brewster's angle for light entering a medium with a refractive index of 1.5?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
What is the Brewster's angle for light entering a medium with a refractive index of 1.5?
30 degrees
45 degrees
60 degrees
53 degrees
Brewster's angle can be calculated using the formula tan(θ_B) = n, where n is the refractive index. For n = 1.5, θ_B = arctan(1.5) ≈ 53 degrees.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: What is the Brewster's angle for light entering a medium with a refractive index of 1.5?
Solution: Brewster's angle can be calculated using the formula tan(θ_B) = n, where n is the refractive index. For n = 1.5, θ_B = arctan(1.5) ≈ 53 degrees.
Steps: 6
Step 1: Understand that Brewster's angle is the angle at which light with a particular polarization is perfectly transmitted through a transparent dielectric surface, with no reflection.
Step 2: Know the formula to calculate Brewster's angle: tan(θ_B) = n, where θ_B is Brewster's angle and n is the refractive index of the medium.
Step 3: Identify the refractive index given in the question, which is n = 1.5.
Step 4: Substitute the value of n into the formula: tan(θ_B) = 1.5.
Step 5: To find θ_B, take the arctangent (inverse tangent) of 1.5: θ_B = arctan(1.5).
Step 6: Use a calculator or a trigonometric table to find arctan(1.5), which is approximately 53 degrees.
