What Happens to the Refraction Angle as the Incident Angle Nears 90 Degrees?

AI Thread Summary
As the incident angle approaches 90 degrees, the refraction angle also approaches 90 degrees, resulting in the light traveling nearly parallel to the interface. The proposed method involves aligning a laser to the 90-degree mark and ensuring it passes through the medium with minimal obstruction. A barrier can be used to aid in the precise alignment of the laser. This approach is valid, but it may be beneficial to consider total internal reflection, which occurs at angles greater than the critical angle. Testing this prediction can provide insights into the behavior of light at extreme angles.
ohlhauc1
Messages
27
Reaction score
0
I have a question concerning this question:

Predict what will happen as the incident angle approaches 90 degress, and develop a method to test the prediction.

I say the refraction angle would also be 90 degrees (remaining a horizontal line), so my method would be to align the laser I'm using to the 90 degree mark and shine it so that just enough of it passes through the medium.

Is that correct and if not, any suggestions?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I would also put a barrier to help align the laser.
 
Kindly see the attached pdf. My attempt to solve it, is in it. I'm wondering if my solution is right. My idea is this: At any point of time, the ball may be assumed to be at an incline which is at an angle of θ(kindly see both the pics in the pdf file). The value of θ will continuously change and so will the value of friction. I'm not able to figure out, why my solution is wrong, if it is wrong .
TL;DR Summary: I came across this question from a Sri Lankan A-level textbook. Question - An ice cube with a length of 10 cm is immersed in water at 0 °C. An observer observes the ice cube from the water, and it seems to be 7.75 cm long. If the refractive index of water is 4/3, find the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. I could not understand how the apparent height of the ice cube in the water depends on the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. Does anyone have an...

Similar threads

Back
Top