The refractive index of water relative to air is 4/3 . A ray of light ...
The refractive index of water relative to air is 4/3 . A ray of light ...
Explanation:
When light travels from one medium to another, it changes its direction due to the change in its speed. This phenomenon is known as refraction. The angle at which the incident ray strikes the interface between the two media is called the angle of incidence, and the angle between the refracted ray and the normal is called the angle of refraction.
Refractive Index:
The refractive index is a measure of how much a ray of light is bent when it passes from one medium to another. It is defined as the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of light in the medium. In this case, the refractive index of water (n₁) relative to air (n₂) is given as 4/3.
Snell's Law:
Snell's Law describes the relationship between the angles of incidence and refraction, and the refractive indices of the two media. It is given by the formula:
n₁sinθ₁ = n₂sinθ₂
Where:
n₁ = refractive index of the first medium (water)
θ₁ = angle of incidence
n₂ = refractive index of the second medium (air)
θ₂ = angle of refraction
Calculating the Angle of Refraction:
Given:
n₁ = 4/3 (refractive index of water relative to air)
θ₁ = 35° (angle of incidence)
To find the angle of refraction, we need to apply Snell's Law. Rearranging the formula, we have:
sinθ₂ = (n₁/n₂)sinθ₁
Substituting the given values:
sinθ₂ = (4/3)sin35°
Using a scientific calculator, we can evaluate the sine of the right-hand side of the equation:
sinθ₂ ≈ 0.746
To find the angle θ₂, we can take the inverse sine (or arcsine) of the value:
θ₂ ≈ arcsin(0.746)
Using a scientific calculator, we find:
θ₂ ≈ 48.2°
Therefore, the refracted ray makes an angle of approximately 48.2° with the normal.