Academic Integrity: tutoring, explanations, and feedback — we don’t complete graded work or submit on a student’s behalf.

1. The refractive index n of transparent acrylic plastic (full name Poly(methyl

ID: 3901007 • Letter: 1

Question

1. The refractive index n of transparent acrylic plastic (full name Poly(methyl methacrylate)) depends on the color (wavelength) of the light passing through it. At wavelength 486.1 nm (blue, designated with letter F) -> nF=1.497, and at wavelength 656.3 nm (red, designated with letter C) -> nC=1.488. Two beams (one of each wavelength) are prepared to coincide, and enter the flat polished surface of an acrylic block at angle of 45 arc degree measured from the normal to the surface. What is the angle between the blue beam and the red beam in the acrylic block?


  2. Consider a lens with focal length f. What will be the distance between the lens and the image if the object is placed further from the lens at distance of 3 focal lengths?

Explanation / Answer

Part 1)

Apply Snells Law

For blue

nsin(angle) = n(sin angle)

1(sin 45) = 1.497(sin r)

r = 28.187 degrees


For red

nsin(angle) = n(sin angle)

1(sin 45) = 1.488(sin r)

r = 28.372 degrees


28.372 - 28.187 = .186 degrees


Part 2)

Apply 1/f = 1/p + 1/q

p = 3f

1/f = 1/3f + 1/q

1/f - 1/3f = 1/q

Common denominator is 3f, so...

(3-1)/3f = 1/q

2/3f = 1/q

q = 3f/2

q = 1.5f