Refraction Of Light

Question 1

What happens to the speed and direction from normal of a EM wave when it goes from a lower refractive index material to a higher refractive index.

And vice versa

Answer 1

Low to high = speed decrease
bends towards normal

High to low = speed increase
refract away from normal

Question 2

Whats the equation for the refractive index of a material

Answer 2

n=c/v

Refractive index = speed of light in vacumn / speed of light in material

Question 3

What is snell’s law formula

Answer 3

n1x sin1.0 = n2 x sin0.2

0 = theta

Question 4

Does refracted ray bend toward or away from normal when it goes from a high refractive index to a low refractive index.

And when it goes from low to high refractive index

Answer 4

From high to low refractive index = speed increases = bends away from normal

From low to high = speed decreases = bend towards normal

Question 5

When does total internal reflection happen

Answer 5

When EM wave goes from a high n to a low n.

And when the angle of incidence increases, angle of refraction increases and partially refracted ray gets stronger.

Then when angle of incidence increases = to critical angle

The angle of refraction hits 90°
So it travels along the boundary

When the angle of incidence > critical angle then total internal reflection occurs.

Question 6

equation for critical angle when refractive ray is at 90°

Answer 6

sin c = n2/n1

Sin c = sin90 x n2/ n1= 1/n1

Question 7

whats the refractive index of vacumn

Answer 7

1

Question 8

define the normal

Answer 8

a line drawn 90 degrees to the boundary between two materials.