A light ray traveling in a medium with n=2.0 strikes a boundary with air at an a

Practice Questions

A light ray traveling in a medium with n=2.0 strikes a boundary with air at an angle of incidence of 45°. What will be the angle of refraction in air?

22.5°
45°
60°
90°

Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions

A light ray traveling in a medium with n=2.0 strikes a boundary with air at an angle of incidence of 45°. What will be the angle of refraction in air?

Correct Answer: 90°

Step 1: Identify the refractive indices. The refractive index of the medium is n1 = 2.0 and for air, n2 = 1.0.
Step 2: Identify the angle of incidence. The angle of incidence θ1 is given as 45°.
Step 3: Write down Snell's law formula: n1 * sin(θ1) = n2 * sin(θ2).
Step 4: Substitute the known values into the formula: 2.0 * sin(45°) = 1.0 * sin(θ2).
Step 5: Calculate sin(45°). It is √2/2.
Step 6: Substitute sin(45°) into the equation: 2.0 * (√2/2) = 1.0 * sin(θ2).
Step 7: Simplify the left side: √2 = sin(θ2).
Step 8: Find the angle θ2 by taking the inverse sine: θ2 = sin⁻¹(√2).
Step 9: Recognize that sin(90°) = 1, so if sin(θ2) = √2, then θ2 = 90°.

Refraction and Snell's Law – Understanding how light bends when it passes from one medium to another, governed by Snell's law.

A light ray traveling in a medium with n=2.0 strikes a boundary with air at an a

Practice Questions

Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions

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