A light ray strikes a glass surface at an angle of 60 degrees. If the refractive
Practice Questions
Q1
A light ray strikes a glass surface at an angle of 60 degrees. If the refractive index of glass is 1.5, what is the angle of refraction?
30 degrees
40 degrees
60 degrees
90 degrees
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
A light ray strikes a glass surface at an angle of 60 degrees. If the refractive index of glass is 1.5, what is the angle of refraction?
Step 1: Identify the given values. The angle of incidence (i) is 60 degrees, the refractive index of air (n1) is 1, and the refractive index of glass (n2) is 1.5.
Step 2: Write down Snell's law formula: n1 * sin(i) = n2 * sin(r).
Step 3: Substitute the known values into the formula: 1 * sin(60 degrees) = 1.5 * sin(r).
Step 4: Calculate sin(60 degrees). It is approximately 0.866.
Step 5: Rewrite the equation: 0.866 = 1.5 * sin(r).
Step 6: Solve for sin(r) by dividing both sides by 1.5: sin(r) = 0.866 / 1.5.
Step 7: Calculate sin(r): sin(r) is approximately 0.577.
Step 8: Find the angle r by taking the inverse sine (arcsin) of 0.577. This gives r approximately equal to 40 degrees.
Refraction – The bending of light as it passes from one medium to another with a different refractive index.
Snell's Law – A formula used to describe the relationship between the angles of incidence and refraction when light passes between two different media.