If the refractive index of a medium is 1.33, what is the maximum angle of incide

Practice Questions

Q1
If the refractive index of a medium is 1.33, what is the maximum angle of incidence for total internal reflection when light travels to air?
  1. 41.8°
  2. 48.6°
  3. 53.1°
  4. 60.0°

Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions

If the refractive index of a medium is 1.33, what is the maximum angle of incidence for total internal reflection when light travels to air?
  • Step 1: Understand that the refractive index (n) of a medium tells us how much light bends when it enters that medium. Here, n1 (for the medium) is 1.33 and n2 (for air) is approximately 1.00.
  • Step 2: Recall the formula for the critical angle (θc) for total internal reflection, which is θc = sin^(-1)(n2/n1).
  • Step 3: Substitute the values into the formula: θc = sin^(-1)(1.00/1.33).
  • Step 4: Calculate the value of 1.00 divided by 1.33, which is approximately 0.7519.
  • Step 5: Use a calculator to find the inverse sine (sin^(-1)) of 0.7519. This gives you the critical angle θc.
  • Step 6: The result is approximately 48.6 degrees, which is the maximum angle of incidence for total internal reflection when light travels from the medium to air.
  • Refractive Index – The refractive index is a measure of how much light bends when entering a medium. It is defined as the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of light in the medium.
  • Total Internal Reflection – Total internal reflection occurs when light attempts to move from a denser medium to a less dense medium at an angle greater than the critical angle, resulting in all the light being reflected back into the denser medium.
  • Critical Angle – The critical angle is the angle of incidence above which total internal reflection occurs. It can be calculated using the refractive indices of the two media involved.
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