Dispersion/total internal reflection

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around a physics homework problem involving total internal reflection related to a mirage seen by a truck driver. The driver, positioned 2.00 m above the road, perceives a patch of water due to the refraction of light in superheated air with an index of refraction of 1.0003. The critical angle for total internal reflection is calculated to be 88.6 degrees using the formula for critical angle. The next step involves applying Snell's law to find the unknown index of refraction of the air just above the road surface. The problem emphasizes the relationship between angles and indices of refraction in the context of optical phenomena.
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Homework Statement



Consider a common mirage formed by superheated air just above a roadway. A truck driver whose eyes are 2.00 m above the road, where n=1.0003 looks forward. She has the illusion of seeing a patch of water ahead on the road, where her line of sight makes an angle of 1.20 degrees below the horizontal. Find the index of refraction of the air just above the road surface. (Hint: Treat this as a problem one involving total internal reflection)

Homework Equations



\Thetac=sin-1(n1/n2)

n1sin\Theta1=n2sin\Theta2

The Attempt at a Solution



So since the textbook said to treat it as a problem with total internal reflection, i figured that I would solve for \Thetac and so I did

\Thetac=sin-1(n1/n2)
\Thetac=sin-1(1/1.0003)
\Thetac= 88.6

and I just have absolutely no idea what to do from here.
 
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n1*sin(theta 1) = n2*sin(theta 2)
In the problem n1, theta 1 and theta 2 is known. Find n2.
 
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