A ray of light is incident on a glass-water interface at the critical angle c

A ray of light is incident on a glass-water interface at the critical angle θ_c¸ as the figure illustrates. The reflected light then passes through a liquid (immiscible with water) and into air. The indices of refraction for the four substances are given in the drawing. Concepts:

(i) What determines the critical angle when the ray strikes the glass-water interface?

(ii) When the light is incident at the glass-water interface at the critical angle, what is the angle of refraction, and how is the angle θ₁ related to the critical angle?

(iii) When the reflected ray strikes the glass-liquid interface, how is the angle of refraction θ₃ related to the angle of incidence θ₂? Note that the two materials have the same indices of refraction.

(iv) When the ray passes from the liquid into the air, is the ray refracted? Explain. Calculation: Determine the angle of refraction θ₅ for the ray as it passes into the air.

Transcribed Image Text:

Water n 1.33 Air 1.00 Glass n 1.52 Liquid n 1.52