What is the critical angle for total internal reflection if the refractive index of the medium is 1.5?
Correct Answer: 42 degrees
- Step 1: Understand that the critical angle is the angle of incidence above which total internal reflection occurs.
- Step 2: Know that the formula to find the critical angle (θc) is sin(θc) = 1/n, where n is the refractive index of the medium.
- Step 3: Identify the refractive index given in the question, which is n = 1.5.
- Step 4: Substitute the value of n into the formula: sin(θc) = 1/1.5.
- Step 5: Calculate 1/1.5, which equals approximately 0.6667.
- Step 6: Now, use the inverse sine function to find θc: θc = sin^(-1)(0.6667).
- Step 7: Use a calculator to find sin^(-1)(0.6667), which gives approximately 41.81 degrees.
- Step 8: Round the answer to the nearest whole number, which is approximately 42 degrees.
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