Dispersion: A ray of light consisting of blue light (wavelength 480 nm) and red light (wavelength 670 nm) is incident on a thick piece of glass at 80°. What is the angular separation between the refracted red and refracted blue beams while they are in the glass? (The respective indices of refraction for the blue light and the red light are 1.4636 and 1.4561.)

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The angular separation between the refracted red and blue beams can be calculated using Snell's law, which states $n_1 \sin(\theta_1) = n_2 \sin(\theta_2)$, where $n_1$ and $n_2$ are the indices of refraction of the first and second medium respectively, and $\theta_1$ and $\theta_2$ are the angles of incidence and refraction respectively. Given the indices of refraction for blue and red light in glass and the angle of incidence, we can calculate the angles of refraction for both colors. The difference in these angles gives the angular separation. The correct answer, based on calculations using the given indices of refraction and applying Snell's law, is 0.27°, indicating that the light beams refract differently due to their wavelengths, leading to a small angular separation within the glass.

Dispersion: a Ray of Light Consisting of Blue Light (Wavelength