Path of Light Through a Circular Raindrop

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the path of light through a circular raindrop, specifically focusing on the angles of incidence and refraction as well as the geometry of the situation. The problem involves applying Snell's Law to determine the behavior of light as it enters and exits the raindrop.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to calculate the angle of refraction using Snell's Law but expresses uncertainty about the angle of reflection and the position of the normal line. Other participants question the correctness of the original poster's calculations and the representation of the diagram.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, with some providing feedback on the original poster's attempts and others clarifying concepts related to the normal line in spherical geometry. There is no explicit consensus on the correctness of the calculations, but guidance is being offered regarding the geometry of the situation.

Contextual Notes

The problem is constrained by the need to accurately represent the angles and the geometry of light interaction with a spherical raindrop, with specific values provided for the indices of refraction and the angle of incidence.

Tasha9000
Messages
8
Reaction score
0
Path of Light Through a Circular (Spherical) Raindrop

Homework Statement



I need to draw an accurate diagram of a light ray's path through a circular raindrop.
-The angle of incidence is 25degrees.
-The radius is 4.15cm
-n of water is ~1.33
-n of air is ~1.000293

I can calculate the first angle of refraction, but I cannot calculate the angle at which the light ray reflects from the raindrop. It does not say how in my textbook :frown:. Where is the normal?

Homework Equations



Snell's Law
nAsinA=nBsinB

The Attempt at a Solution



https://www.physicsforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=23940&d=1267138827g

angle of refraction:

B=sin-1((1.000293sin(25degrees))/1.33)=18.533
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
Can somebody please help?:frown:
 
Is this right or completely wrong?
https://www.physicsforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=23944&d=1267153824
(except with the arrows pointing the correct way)
 
This is a sphere, so the normal at any point is the line that passes through the point, through the center, and straight to the other side.
 
Thanks!
I'm going to guess this is the correct answer:
 

Attachments

  • raindrop5.png
    raindrop5.png
    7.5 KB · Views: 528
Looks right to me. Do they want you to calculate any of the distances in the figure, or is just getting the angles good enough?
 

Similar threads

Solve Snell's Law: Glass Cube Refractive Index = 1.77
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
6K
What is the angle of incidence?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
Deviation in refraction and TIR
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Optics: refraction and reflection
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Light rays passing through a glass prism
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
The maximum intensity for light transmitted through a thin film
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
4K
The refractive index of an unknown liquid
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
On Polarised Light and its State
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Find Angle of Reflection for Snell's Law Q w/ GaP Index
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Finding the Index of Refraction in a Prism
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K