Finding Light Shifting Distance: An Exercise in Refraction

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a problem in optics, specifically focusing on the refraction of light as it passes through a glass block. The original poster attempts to calculate the distance the light is shifted after passing through the glass, given specific parameters such as the angle of incidence and the refractive index of the glass.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the calculation of the angle of refraction and the method of finding the horizontal distances traveled by the light rays at different angles. There is a focus on the discrepancy between the original poster's result and the expected value from the textbook.

Discussion Status

Some participants are sharing their initial attempts and expressing uncertainty about common mistakes in similar problems. There is an indication that visual aids, such as diagrams, may help clarify the situation, but no consensus has been reached on the correct approach or solution.

Contextual Notes

One participant notes that this is their first experience with such a problem, highlighting a potential lack of familiarity with the concepts involved. The original poster also mentions a specific expected answer from a textbook, which may influence the discussion.

Bri
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A ray of light strikes a flat block of glass (n=1.5) of thickness 2.0 cm at an angle of 30 degrees with the normal. Find the distance the light is shifted.
I found the angle of refraction to be 19.471 degrees.
I figured I could find the horizontal distance traveled by rays going through at 30 and 19.471 degrees using tan(theta) = d/2.
Then I subtracted one distance from the other, and I get .446 cm, when, according to the book, I should get 3.88 mm.
What am I doing wrong?
 
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Last edited:
Bri said:
A ray of light strikes a flat block of glass (n=1.5) of thickness 2.0 cm at an angle of 30 degrees with the normal. Find the distance the light is shifted.
I found the angle of refraction to be 19.471 degrees.
I figured I could find the horizontal distance traveled by rays going through at 30 and 19.471 degrees using tan(theta) = d/2.
Then I subtracted one distance from the other, and I get .446 cm, when, according to the book, I should get 3.88 mm.
What am I doing wrong?


The lines of both the incident and emerging rays are parallel, and the shift of the light rays is characterized by the distance between those parallel lines. It is the length of the intersecting normal ("S" in the picture attached).

ehild
 
Last edited:
Yes.I drew that line too but it is rather ugly. :p
 

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