A ray of light passes from air into water at an angle of incidence of 30 degrees

A ray of light passes from air into water at an angle of incidence of 30 degrees. What is the angle of refraction?

A ray of light passes from air into water at an angle of incidence of 30 degrees. What is the angle of refraction?

Step 1: Identify the angle of incidence (θ1), which is given as 30 degrees.
Step 2: Identify the refractive indices: n1 for air is 1 and n2 for water is 1.33.
Step 3: Write down Snell's law formula: n1 * sin(θ1) = n2 * sin(θ2).
Step 4: Substitute the known values into the formula: 1 * sin(30 degrees) = 1.33 * sin(θ2).
Step 5: Calculate sin(30 degrees), which is 0.5.
Step 6: Now the equation looks like: 0.5 = 1.33 * sin(θ2).
Step 7: Rearrange the equation to find sin(θ2): sin(θ2) = 0.5 / 1.33.
Step 8: Calculate 0.5 / 1.33, which equals approximately 0.375.
Step 9: Use the inverse sine function to find θ2: θ2 = sin^(-1)(0.375).
Step 10: Calculate θ2, which is approximately 22 degrees.

Refraction – The bending of light as it passes from one medium to another with a different density.
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.