How Does Light Refract Through Water and Crown Glass?

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    Light Refraction
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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the refraction of light as it passes through water and crown glass, specifically focusing on the angles of incidence and refraction at different interfaces. The original poster presents a problem involving a ray of light entering water from crown glass and seeks assistance in determining the angle of emergence.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the application of Snell's Law at the interfaces between water, crown glass, and air. The original poster expresses confusion over differing answers from their calculations and the textbook.

Discussion Status

The conversation includes attempts to clarify the problem and verify calculations. Some participants suggest that the angle of emergence could be directly related to the angle of incidence under certain conditions, while others are exploring the implications of the setup and assumptions made.

Contextual Notes

There is mention of potential discrepancies between the original poster's calculations and the textbook answer, indicating a need for further verification. The discussion also assumes a specific configuration of the materials involved, which may affect the outcome.

ryanvoy
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A block of crown glass (refractive index - 1.52) is covered by a sheet of water (refractive index - 1.33). a ray of light incident on the water with a angle of incidence of 55 degrees. find the angle that this ray makes with the normal when it emerges from the glass...


PLEASE help, this is the only question i can't do...

thanks,

Regards Ryan Voy

ryanvoy@hotmail.com
 
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HINT: Apply Snell's Law at each of the three interfaces.
 
thanks i knew i had to do that but I am getting a different answer to the textbook,

My answer - 32.61 degrees'

text books answer 69.4 degrees

sorry 4 the trouble

Thanks regards Ryan

ryanvoy@hotmail.com
 
The answer should be exactly 55 degrees, and you can do this without even invoking Snell's law explicitly. As long as the sides of all the interfaces are perfectly parallel, the exit ray in the same medium has to be parallel to the incident ray in that medium.

EDIT : This is assuming that the glass is covered on only one side with water and the final ray emerges into air.
 
:smile: Thanks i will check Monday with the teacher, hopfully its right :smile:


Regards Ryan,

ryanvoy@hotmail.com
 

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