A beam of light passes from air into a medium with a refractive index of 1.5. If
Practice Questions
Q1
A beam of light passes from air into a medium with a refractive index of 1.5. If the angle of incidence is 30 degrees, what is the angle of refraction? (2022)
19.1 degrees
20 degrees
25 degrees
30 degrees
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
A beam of light passes from air into a medium with a refractive index of 1.5. If the angle of incidence is 30 degrees, what is the angle of refraction? (2022)
Step 1: Identify the refractive indices. The refractive index of air (n1) is approximately 1, and the refractive index of the medium (n2) is 1.5.
Step 2: Identify the angle of incidence (i), which is given as 30 degrees.
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(30 degrees) = 1.5 * sin(r).
Step 5: Calculate sin(30 degrees), which is 0.5. So the equation becomes: 1 * 0.5 = 1.5 * sin(r).
Step 6: Simplify the equation: 0.5 = 1.5 * sin(r).
Step 7: Solve for sin(r) by dividing both sides by 1.5: sin(r) = 0.5 / 1.5.
Step 8: Calculate 0.5 / 1.5, which equals approximately 0.333.
Step 9: Find the angle r by taking the inverse sine (arcsin) of 0.333: r ≈ 19.1 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 media.
Refractive Index – A dimensionless number that describes how fast light travels in a medium compared to vacuum.
