When a light ray in air enters glass with index of refraction 1.60, what is the greatest angle of refraction that can occur?
A) 90.0°
B) 56.2°
C) 52.2°
D) 38.7°
E) 0.0°

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The greatest angle of refraction occurs when the angle of incidence is 90°, and can be found using Snell's Law: n1*sin(θ1) = n2*sin(θ2). For air, n1 = 1, and for glass, n2 = 1.60. Solving for θ2 when θ1 = 90° gives sin(θ2) = 1/1.60, which results in θ2 ≈ 38.7°.

When a Light Ray in Air Enters Glass with Index