A 60° prism has a refractive index of 1.64 for blue light and 1.61 for red light. Calculate the difference in the angle of incidence for the initial red and blue light ray that is refracted inside the prism and just undergoes total internal reflection at the opposite face of the prism.
A) 4.1°
B) 1.5°
C) 3.2°
D) 2.4°
E) 0.4°

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The critical angle for total internal reflection is different for blue and red light due to their different refractive indices. Calculating the critical angles and using Snell's law, the difference in the angle of incidence is approximately 2.4°.

A 60° Prism Has a Refractive Index of 1