What is the critical angle for total internal reflection if the refractive index of the medium is 1.5?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
What is the critical angle for total internal reflection if the refractive index of the medium is 1.5?
30 degrees
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90 degrees
The critical angle (θc) can be calculated using sin(θc) = 1/n. Here, n = 1.5, so θc = sin^(-1)(1/1.5) ≈ 41.81 degrees, which is approximately 42 degrees.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: What is the critical angle for total internal reflection if the refractive index of the medium is 1.5?
Solution: The critical angle (θc) can be calculated using sin(θc) = 1/n. Here, n = 1.5, so θc = sin^(-1)(1/1.5) ≈ 41.81 degrees, which is approximately 42 degrees.
Steps: 8
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.
