- #1
reb659
- 64
- 0
Homework Statement
A pair of students measure the refraction of light in passing from acetone into air for several angles. When the angle of incidence is 30, the angle of refraction is 42.
b) What is the angle of incidence (in degrees) when the refracted angle is the critical angle?
Homework Equations
Snells law: Ni*sin(i)=Nr*sin(r)
The Attempt at a Solution
I found the index of refraction for air to be 1 and for acetone to be 1.36. By snell's law setting r=90:
sin(i crit) = nr/ni * sin(90) = nr/ni = 1/1.36
icrit = arcsin(1/1.36) = 55.73 degrees
Is my answer correct? I'm a bit confused about the part that says "...when the refracted angle is the critical angle". Isn't the angle of incidence (when it creates a refraction of 90 degrees) the critical angle?
Last edited: