A ray of light travel in a medium whose refractive index with respect ...
90 degrees... as the angle of incidence in the denser medium become the critical angle
A ray of light travel in a medium whose refractive index with respect ...
Introduction:
When a ray of light passes from one medium to another, it changes its direction due to the change in the speed of light. This phenomenon is known as refraction. The angle at which the ray of light approaches the surface is called the angle of incidence, and the angle at which it bends or changes direction after passing through the medium is called the angle of refraction.
Given:
- The refractive index of the medium with respect to air is √2.
- The angle of incidence is 45 degrees.
Refractive Index:
The refractive index of a medium can be calculated using the formula:
Refractive Index (n) = Speed of Light in Vacuum / Speed of Light in the Medium
Since the speed of light in vacuum is constant (approximately 3 x 10^8 m/s), the refractive index is directly proportional to the speed of light in the medium. Hence, as the refractive index increases, the speed of light in the medium decreases.
Calculating the Angle of Refraction:
To calculate the angle of refraction, we can use Snell's Law, which states that the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction is equal to the ratio of the refractive indices of the two media.
Mathematically, Snell's Law can be represented as:
n1 * sin(θ1) = n2 * sin(θ2)
Where:
- n1 is the refractive index of the first medium (air in this case)
- θ1 is the angle of incidence
- n2 is the refractive index of the second medium (the given medium)
- θ2 is the angle of refraction (to be calculated)
In this case, n1 is 1 (since the refractive index of air is 1) and θ1 is 45 degrees. Substituting these values into Snell's Law, we get:
1 * sin(45) = √2 * sin(θ2)
Simplifying the equation, we have:
sin(45) = √2 * sin(θ2)
Taking the inverse sine (sin^-1) of both sides, we can find the angle of refraction, θ2.
θ2 = sin^-1(sin(45) / √2)
Using a calculator, we can determine the value of sin^-1(sin(45) / √2) ≈ 30.47 degrees.
Thus, the angle of refraction is approximately 30.47 degrees.
To make sure you are not studying endlessly, EduRev has designed NEET study material, with Structured Courses, Videos, & Test Series. Plus get personalized analysis, doubt solving and improvement plans to achieve a great score in NEET.