Refraction Physics Example 3

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Example 3

medium
Light travels from water (n=1.33n = 1.33) into air (n=1.0n = 1.0) at an angle of incidence of 30°30°. What is the angle of refraction?

Solution

  1. 1
    Snell's law: 1.33sin⁡30°=1.0sin⁡θ21.33 \sin 30° = 1.0 \sin\theta_2.
  2. 2
    1.33×0.5=sin⁡θ2  ⟹  sin⁡θ2=0.6651.33 \times 0.5 = \sin\theta_2 \implies \sin\theta_2 = 0.665
  3. 3
    θ2=sin⁡−1(0.665)≈41.7°\theta_2 = \sin^{-1}(0.665) \approx 41.7°

Answer

θ2≈41.7°\theta_2 \approx 41.7°
When light exits a denser medium into a less dense one, it bends away from the normal. The refracted angle is larger than the incident angle.

About Refraction

The change in direction of a wave as it passes from one medium into another where it travels at a different speed.

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More Refraction Examples

Example 1 medium

Light passes from air ([formula]) into glass ([formula]) at an angle of incidence of [formula]. What

Example 2 hard

What is the critical angle for light going from glass ([formula]) to air ([formula])?

Example 4 hard

Light enters a diamond ([formula]) from air ([formula]) at an angle of incidence of [formula]. Find

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