Question

A ray in glass arrives at the glass-water interface at an angle of 48° with the normal. The refracted ray, in water, makes a 72° angle with the normal. The index of refraction of water is 1.33. Then the ray in glass is redirected so its new angle of incidence is 37°. What is the new angle of refraction in the water? Show all work.

Answer 1

Answer:

50.4°

Explanation:

Snell's law states:

n₁ sin θ₁ = n₂ sin θ₂

where n is the index of refraction and θ is the angle of incidence (relative to the normal).

When θ₁ = 48°:

n sin 48° = 1.33 sin 72°

n = 1.702

When θ₁ = 37°:

1.702 sin 37° = 1.33 sin θ

θ = 50.4°