Practice Refraction in Physics
Use these practice problems to test your method after reviewing the concept explanation and worked examples.
Quick Recap
The bending of a wave as it crosses the boundary between two media with different wave speeds.
A straw looks bent in a glass of water because light bends at the surface.
Example 1
mediumLight passes from air (n_1 = 1.0) into glass (n_2 = 1.5) at an angle of incidence of 30°. What is the angle of refraction?
Example 2
hardWhat is the critical angle for light going from glass (n = 1.5) to air (n = 1.0)?
Example 3
mediumLight travels from water (n = 1.33) into air (n = 1.0) at an angle of incidence of 30°. What is the angle of refraction?
Example 4
hardLight enters a diamond (n = 2.42) from air (n = 1.00) at an angle of incidence of 45°. Find the angle of refraction. Then calculate the critical angle for light leaving diamond into air.