When light goes from a material with a lower index of refraction n₁ into a material with a higher index of refraction n₂ with an angle of incidence of 30.0°, which of the following is true?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to Snell's Law, n₁sinθ1=n₂sinθ2, where θ1 is the angle of incidence and θ2 is the angle of refraction. Since n₂ is greater than n₁, sinθ2 must be less than sinθ1. Since sin30° is less than 1, the angle of refraction must also be less than 30°. Total internal reflection occurs when the angle of refraction is greater than 90°, which is not possible in this case. Therefore, total internal reflection is not possible and the correct choice is B.

When Light Goes from a Material with a Lower Index