(a) As shown in the figure, a beam of light in medium 1 is incident on an interf

Question

(a) As shown in the figure, a beam of light in medium 1 is incident on an interface separating medium 1 from medium 2. Part of the beam reflects from the interface, and part refracts into medium 2. Describe, qualitatively, how the indices of refraction of the two media compare if the refracted beam follows

(i) path a

(ii) path b (in the same direction as the incident light)

(iii) path c.

(b) A beam of light is incident on an interface separating two media. When the angle of incidence, measured from the normal, is 10.0°, the angle of refraction is 18.0°. What is the angle of refraction when the angle of incidence is 30.0°?

(c) Return to the situation described in part (b). If the speed of light in one of the media is 2.80 × 108 m/s, what is the speed of light in the other medium? Is there more than one possible answer? Explain.

Explanation / Answer

a)

i) n2 < n1

ii) n2 = n1

iii) n2 < n1

b)

use snell's law in both cases

sin(10)/sin(18) = n2/n1 ----(1)

sin(30)/sin(theta_r) = n2/n1 ----(2)

from the above two equations

sin(10)/sin(18) = sin(30)/sin(theta_r)

sin(theta_r) = sin(30)*sin(18)/sin(10)

theta_r = sin^-1(0.8898)

= 62.8 degrees

c) if v2 = 2.8*10^8 m/s

sin(10)/sin(18) = n2/n1

sin(10)/sin(18) = (c/v2)/(c/v1)

sin(10)/sin(18) = v1/v2

v1 = v2*(sin(10)/sin(18)

= 2.8*10^8*sin(10)/sin(18)

= 1.57*10^8 m/s

only one possible answer.

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