The prism is made from glass and its cross section is an

In summary, the problem involves finding the angles of refraction for red and violet light as they pass through a prism made of glass with an equilateral triangle cross section. The indices of refraction for red and violet light are given as 1.662 and 1.698, respectively, and the angle of incidence for both is 60 degrees. The formula n1*sin theta 1 = n2*sin theta 2 is used to solve for theta 2, but geometry must first be used to find the value of r. Then, the equation sin(60-r)/sin(x)=1/n is used to find the angle x at which the light emerges. This process must be done separately for red and violet light.
  • #1
atoreta88
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Homework Statement


the prism is made from glass, and its cross section is an equilateral triangle. the indices of refraction for the red and violet light are 1.662 and 1.698, respectively. the angle of incidence for both the red and violet light is 60 degrees. find the angles of refraction at which the red and violet rays emerge into the air from the prism

Homework Equations


I know I'm supposed to use the formula n1*sin theta 1=n2 *sin theta 2.

The Attempt at a Solution



I tried plugging in 60 degrees into theta 1, and i tried plugging n1 and n2 with the indices of refractions that are given. then using all those knowns i tried to solve for the unknown, theta 2, but it didn't give me the right answer. my answer was close, but it's not correct.
 
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  • #2
you have to do a bit of geometry here first. see the attachment. U can find r by the formula u stated. Then use sin(60-r)/sin(x)=1/n to find the angle x at which they emerge. You have to do separately for the red and violet but using the same process
 

Attachments

  • Untitled1.jpg
    Untitled1.jpg
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1. What is the purpose of a prism made from glass?

A prism made from glass is used to refract light, separating it into its component colors. It can also be used to reflect light, making it an important tool in optics and scientific experiments.

2. How is a prism made from glass different from a prism made from another material?

The main difference between a glass prism and one made from another material is the refractive index. Glass has a higher refractive index than most other materials, making it more effective at refracting and reflecting light.

3. What is the cross section of a prism made from glass?

The cross section of a prism made from glass is typically triangular in shape. This allows for the refraction and reflection of light as it passes through the prism.

4. How does a prism made from glass work?

A prism made from glass works by bending and separating light as it passes through the different angles of the prism's triangular shape. This results in the dispersion of the different colors of light, creating the iconic rainbow effect.

5. What are some common uses for a prism made from glass?

Prisms made from glass are used in a variety of scientific and optical applications, such as in spectroscopes, telescopes, and camera lenses. They are also commonly used in photography and in educational demonstrations to show the properties of light.

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