Refraction and total internal reflection

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the behavior of light at a glass-air interface, specifically focusing on the concepts of refraction and total internal reflection. Participants are examining the critical angles for red and violet light and questioning the implications of these angles on light transmission.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are attempting to determine the conditions under which total internal reflection occurs, particularly in relation to the critical angles calculated for red and violet light. Questions are raised about the relationship between the angle of incidence and the critical angle.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants exploring different angles of incidence and their relation to the critical angles. Some guidance has been offered regarding the conditions for total internal reflection, but there is no explicit consensus on the interpretation of the results or the implications for the light entering the air.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working with specific indices of refraction for red and violet light and are considering the implications of these values on the behavior of light at the interface. There is an acknowledgment of confusion regarding the problem setup and the calculations involved.

calgal260
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A mixture of red and violet light is incident on a glass-air interface. The indices of refraction for red and violet light in glass are n(red)=1.52 and n(violet)=1.538. What color of light enters the air?

http://www.webassign.net/cj8/q_10.gif

attempt to solve:
I found that the critical angle for the violet light is 40.56 degrees and 41.14 degrees for the red. If the critical angle for the red light is larger, shouldn't there be total internal reflection?

Thanks in advance!
 
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At which angle does total reflection happen? Greater or lower than the critical angle?

ehild
 
ehild said:
At which angle does total reflection happen? Greater or lower than the critical angle?

ehild

Greater than the critical angle, right? That is what I'm getting but this problem is confusing. I must be doing something wrong.
 
The light enters at the glass-air interface at 40.85° angle. For which light is this angle greater than the critical one?

ehild
 

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