What Is the Minimum Angle of Incidence for Light to Traverse a 60-Degree Prism?

Thread starter John_Galt
Start date May 19, 2008
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Light Prism Refraction

AI Thread Summary

To determine the minimum angle of incidence for light to traverse a 60-degree prism with an index of refraction of 1.6, Snell's Law is applied at both the entry and exit faces of the prism. The critical angle for the prism's exit face is calculated, which helps establish the necessary conditions for light to exit. The relationship between the angles of incidence and refraction is crucial, particularly considering the apex angle of the prism. The minimum angle of incidence is found to be approximately 41.81 degrees. Understanding these principles is essential for solving similar optics problems.

May 19, 2008

John_Galt

Homework Statement

Given an apex angle of 60 degrees and an index of refraction of 1.6; what is the smallest angle of incidence for which a ray can enter the left face of a prism and exit the right face?

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The Attempt at a Solution

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May 19, 2008

Chi Meson

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