Refraction of Light question assistance needed

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around a physics exam question regarding the angle of refraction when light passes from air into oil. The user initially calculates the angle of refraction using Snell's law but arrives at an incorrect value of 22.97 degrees, which does not match any of the provided multiple-choice answers. It is clarified that the incident angle should be measured from the normal, not the surface, leading to the correct calculation. After receiving guidance, the user recognizes their mistake and expresses gratitude for the assistance. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding the correct application of Snell's law in optics.
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As revision for my upcoming physics exam, I'm doing an old exam paper from a previous year of the course, for which the answers aren't published. However, I'm stuck on a basic angle of refraction question:
"A light ray makes an angle of 35degrees to the surface of an oil layer. [A diagram is attached, which shows the light ray traveling through air until it hits the oil surface]. The air's n=1.00, and the oil''s n=1.47. What is the angle of refraction of the light ray in the oil?"

It's a multichoice answer, and the answers are A) 35degrees, B) 56.1degrees, C) 55.9degrees, D) 33.9degrees, and E) 67.7.
However when I use the n1*sin(theta1) = n2*sin(theta2) method, my answer is always equal to 22.97degrees? Which is equal to none of the multichoice answer values? And because there are no published answers, I can't check the correct answer.
Have I done something wrong? Or is there a mistake in the exam paper? Thank you for any and all help!
[P.S. my calculator is definitely set in degrees.]


Relevant equations:
n1*sin(theta1) = n2*sin(theta2)


The attempt at a solution:
1 * sin(35) = 1.47 * sin(theta2), therefore sin-1 (sin(35)/1.47) = theta2 = 22.97degrees.
 
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Try 90o - 35o as the incident angle.
The incident angle for Snell's law is measured with respect to the normal to the surface.
 
andrevdh said:
Try 90o - 35o as the incident angle.
The incident angle for Snell's law is measured with respect to the normal to the surface.

Thank you very much! A dumb mistake on my part; you've saved me from embarrassing myself in front of my lecturer when I went to ask him for help, and the extra info at the bottom was also very helpful, thank you again!
 
Don't be afraid to make mistakes or ask questions (and hopefully do not break anything in the process). That is (mostly) how we learn.
 
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