A ray of light is traveling in a glass cube that is totally immersed in water. I

Question

A ray of light is traveling in a glass cube that is totally immersed in water. If the ray is incident on the glass-water interface at an angle to the normal greater than 57.3°, no light is refracted into the water. What is the refractive index of the glass?

1.84

1.33

2.46

1.58

A ray of light is traveling in a glass cube that is totally immersed in water. If the ray is incident on the glass-water interface at an angle to the normal greater than 57.3°, no light is refracted into the water. What is the refractive index of the glass?

1.84

1.33

2.46

1.58

Explanation / Answer

TIR (Total Internal Reflection) occurs when the light is incident at an angle greater than the critical angle. This is derived from Snells law :

n1 * sin(Theta) = n2 * sin90
sin(Theta)=(n2/n1) =n1=n2/sin(Theta)

You know theta=57.3 , n1 is glass and n2 is water =1.3333.

n1=1.333/sin(57.3)=1.58

Thus refractive index of glass =1.58

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