A ray of light goes from one transparent material into another, as shown in the

Question

A ray of light goes from one transparent material into another, as shown in the figure. What can you conclude about the indices of refraction of these two materials? e.g. in which region (if either) is the index of refraction larger?. Does the speed, wavelength, and frequency of a light wave increase or decrease? At what, angle would light have to be incident on the interface to be not transmitted? Give your answer in terms of n1 and n2. What is the path taken by the light ray in medium 2 in this case.

Explanation / Answer

When a ray bends away from the normal while travelling to another medium it is travelling from a denser to a rarer medium

Hence n1 has larger refractive index than n2

When a ray moves from a denser to rarer medium speed lof light increases and so does wavelength whereas frequency remains the same.

For light not to be transmitted it has to a case of total internal reflection

Using snell's law

sin i / sin r = n2/n1

r = 90

So sin i = n2/n1

i = sin-1(n2/n1)

Since it is not transmitted so there is no path in medium 2.

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