Question

An incident ray strikes a boundary at a 72.5-degree angle, resulting in an angle of refraction of 39.6 degrees. The index of refraction of the first medium is 1.0003. What is medium 1? What is medium 2?

Answer 1

Refractive index is the ration of sin i to sin r where i is the incident angle and r is the refraction angle. 
Therefore, refractive index = sin 79.5 / sin 39.6
                                           = 1.542
The refractive index may be given by the ratio of refractive index of medium 2 to refractive index of medium 1. 
Therefore, 1.542 = n/1.0003
                            n = 1.5425
                               ≈ 1.54
Medium 2 is sodium chloride, refractive index of 1.54

 

Answer 2

Answer: MEDIUM 1 : air

MEDIUM 2: Lucite

Explanation: