Need help with angle of incidence of light through a prism

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves the behavior of light as it passes through an equilateral glass prism, specifically focusing on the angle of incidence, total internal reflection, and the construction of a ray diagram. The refractive index for violet light is provided, and the original poster seeks assistance in understanding these concepts.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to calculate the critical angle and questions whether the angle of incidence at surface A-B is 90°. Some participants clarify the expression of the critical angle calculation and seek validation of the ray diagram.

Discussion Status

The discussion includes attempts to clarify the calculation of the critical angle and the definition of the angle of incidence. Some participants provide feedback on the original poster's expressions and seek confirmation on the accuracy of the ray diagram, indicating an ongoing exploration of the concepts involved.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of confusion regarding the expression of the critical angle calculation and the definition of the angle of incidence. The original poster's ray diagram is also under scrutiny, indicating a need for further clarification on visual representations of the problem.

batcave1985
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Homework Statement


The direction of the ray of light enters equilateral 60° glass prism normal to the surface as shown in attached image
refracted index of the prism material for the violet light is 1.651

(a) What is the angle of incidence on the surface A-B?
(b) Does total internal reflection occur?
(c) Draw a ray diagram to show how light passes through
the prism

Homework Equations


critical angle-----sin i c= 1/n


The Attempt at a Solution


My attempt
a) critical angle
sin= 1/1.651
= 37.3°
Not sure if its 90° for the incidence for side A-B

b) Total internal reflections occur because the angle of incidence is greater
then the critical angle

c) i also attached my attempt to the image.


thank you any help would be great
 

Attachments

  • prism attempt.jpg
    prism attempt.jpg
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The calculation seems correct, but the way you expressed it is confusing.
You wrote
"sin= 1/1.651
= 37.3°"

You should have written
"sin θc= 1/1.651
θc = 37.3°"
 
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dauto said:
The calculation seems correct, but the way you expressed it is confusing.
You wrote
"sin= 1/1.651
= 37.3°"

You should have written
"sin θc= 1/1.651
θc = 37.3°"

thank you any chance you can tell me if my ray diagram in the picture attached is correct?
 
batcave1985 said:
thank you any chance you can tell me if my ray diagram in the picture attached is correct?

No.

Note that the angle of incidence is defined as the angle the ray encloses with the normal of the surface.
At totalreflecton, the ray is reflected from the surface AB inside the prism, and is incident onto an other side, and then leaves the prism.

ehild
 

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