What is the critical angle for total internal reflection from water to air (n_water = 1.33, n_air = 1)?
Correct Answer: 48.6 degrees
- Step 1: Understand that total internal reflection occurs when light travels from a denser medium (water) to a less dense medium (air).
- Step 2: Identify the refractive indices: n_water = 1.33 and n_air = 1.
- Step 3: Use the formula for the critical angle: sin(θ_c) = n2/n1, where n2 is the refractive index of air and n1 is the refractive index of water.
- Step 4: Substitute the values into the formula: sin(θ_c) = 1/1.33.
- Step 5: Calculate the value of sin(θ_c): sin(θ_c) ≈ 0.7519.
- Step 6: Use the inverse sine function to find θ_c: θ_c = sin^(-1)(0.7519).
- Step 7: Calculate θ_c, which gives approximately 48.6 degrees.
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