Light Refraction: Find Angle of Refracted Ray

In summary, using Snell's Law, we can find the angle that a refracted ray makes with the surface when a ray of light strikes a piece of glass with a refraction index of 1.5 and an angle of incidence of 30 degrees. By assuming that the ray is coming from air and using the fact that the refraction index of air is 1, we can easily solve for the angle of refraction using the equation n1*sin(theta1)=n2*sin(theta2).
  • #1
bfr
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0

Homework Statement



A ray of light strikes a piece of glass (n=refraction index=1.5), making an angle of 30 degrees with the surface. What angle does the refracted ray make with the surface?

Homework Equations



Snell's Law: n1*sin(theta1)=n2*sin(theta2)

The Attempt at a Solution



We're only given one n...how do I do this?
 
Last edited:
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  • #2
Is the question assuming that it's coming from air?
 
  • #3
bfr said:
We're only given one n...how do I do this?

Hi bfr! :smile:

easy-peasy … you can assume that, for air (it is air, isn't it? :rolleyes:), n = 1. :smile:
 
  • #4
OK, I didn't know we're just supposed to assume that n=1, thanks.
 

1. What is light refraction?

Light refraction is the bending of light as it passes through different mediums, such as air, water, or glass. This bending occurs because light travels at different speeds in different mediums.

2. How is the angle of refraction calculated?

The angle of refraction is calculated using Snell's Law, which states that the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction is equal to the ratio of the speeds of light in the two mediums.

3. What factors affect the angle of refraction?

The angle of refraction is affected by the angle of incidence, the speed of light in the two mediums, and the refractive index of the two mediums. The refractive index is a measure of how much a medium can bend light.

4. How does the angle of refraction change as the angle of incidence increases?

As the angle of incidence increases, the angle of refraction also increases. This is because the light is entering the second medium at a greater angle, causing it to bend more.

5. Why is it important to calculate the angle of refraction?

Calculating the angle of refraction is important because it allows us to understand how light behaves as it travels through different mediums. This knowledge is crucial in fields such as optics, astronomy, and meteorology.

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