How Does Light Refract Through a Prism with Different Angles?

  • Thread starter Thread starter StumpedFrosh
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Angles Light
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
1 reply · 2K views
StumpedFrosh
Messages
1
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



Light is incident on a glass prism with an angle of incidence of 54°. The light enters on the left hand side of a triangular prism with base angles of 80° and apex angle of 20°. (The 54° ray of incidence enters from the south west side of the prism, directed towards the north east). Calculate all the angles as a ray of light travels through a prism. Assume that the prism is surrounded with air therefore n=1, also the n value of the prism is n=1.7.

Homework Equations



snell's law: n1sinΘ1=n2sinΘ2

The Attempt at a Solution


With the given information i drew the image and determined through snell's law that the first angle of refraction (Θ2) equals 28.4°... I don't understand how to find Θ3.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
You have to use you knowledge of triangles and angles to work out an incident angle to the second side.
Since you have a sketch, you can continue the ray into the prism until it strikes the other side.
The ray and the apex of the prism will make a triangle where you know two of the angles.