What is the largest theta can be if the tube is in water?

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The problem involves light traveling through a solid plastic tube with a specific index of refraction, exploring the angles at which light can reflect back into the tube when submerged in different mediums, specifically air and water.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the concept of critical angles and total internal reflection, with one participant attempting to calculate these angles for both air and water. Questions arise regarding the interpretation of the problem and the necessary conditions for reflection.

Discussion Status

The discussion includes attempts to clarify the requirements for the angles involved, with some participants providing initial calculations. However, there is no explicit consensus on the final answers, and one participant indicates they have resolved their question independently.

Contextual Notes

One participant notes difficulty in finding relevant material in their textbook, suggesting a potential gap in understanding the underlying principles of optics related to the problem.

91619
Messages
3
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Light enters a solid 90 degree angled tube made of plastic having an index of refraction of 1.60. The light travels parallel to the upper part of the tube. which is horizontal You want to cut the corner of the tube so that all the light will reflect back into the tube after it strikes that face. a) what is the larget theta can be (theta is the angle from the top) if the tube is in air? b) what is the largest theta can be if the tube is in water?
*diagram attached


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


I could not find the material related to this question in the book.
 

Attachments

  • yg.23.58.jpg
    yg.23.58.jpg
    4.9 KB · Views: 548
Physics news on Phys.org
You must show some work to get help on these forums. To get you started, since you said you couldn't find the material, try to read up on Snell's Law and Critical Angles.
 
I found the critical angle, which is the largest the angle could be without total internal reflection. But the question askes what is the largest the angle can be?

I got 38.7 degrees and 56.2 degrees.
 
nvm, i got the answer.
 

Similar threads

Air wedge interference pattern after being filled with water
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
What is the internal radius of the optical fibre
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Maximum angle of the refracted light beam
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
How to find unknown refractive index to solve for theta
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
Problem involving interference and medium with index n
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
Undergrad Condition for Centering Starlight in a Water-Filled Telescope?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
What is the Height of Mercury in an Inclined Torricellian Tube?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
What happens when tube is immersed in a liquid?
  • · Replies 27 ·
Replies
27
Views
4K
Water cooler radiator with unusual air flow direction
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
The refractive index of an unknown liquid
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K