Question

Set the top medium to AIR. Set the second medium to CUSTOM. Move the slider for the index of refraction to 1.41.

Answer 1

Answer:

$30.1^{\circ}$

Explanation:

Refraction is a phenomenon that occurs when light passes through the interface between two mediums.

When this occurs, the ray of light changes speed and also changes direction, according to Snell's Law:

$n_1 sin \theta_1 = n_2 sin \theta_2$

$n_1$ is the index of refraction of the 1st medium

$n_2$ is the index of refraction of the 2nd medium

$\theta_1$ is the angle of incidence (the angle between the incident ray and the normal to the boundary)

$\theta_2$ is the angle of refraction (the angle between the refracted ray and the normal to the boundary)

For this problem we have:

$n_1=1.00$ is the index of refraction of the 1st medium (air)

$n_2=1.41$ is the  index of refraction of the 2nd medium

$\theta_1 =45^{\circ}$ is the angle of incidence

Solving for the angle of refraction, we find:

$\theta_2 = sin^{-1}(\frac{n_1}{n_2}sin \theta_1)=sin^{-1}(\frac{1.00}{1.41}sin 45^{\circ})=30.1^{\circ}$