Light with a wavelength of 589 nm in a vacuum strikes the surface of an unknown liquid at an angle of 31.2° with respect to the normal to the surface. If the light travels at a speed of 1.97 × 10⁸ m/s through the liquid, what is the angle of refraction? A)19.9° B)26.1° C)34.2° D)39.3° E)51.9°

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Snell's law: n1 sin θ1 = n2 sin θ2n1 = 1 (vacuum)n2 = unknownθ1 = 31.2°θ2 = ?v = c/nv = 1.97 × 10^8 m/sc = 3 × 10^8 m/sn = c/vn = 3 × 10^8 m/s / 1.97 × 10^8 m/sn = 1.523sin θ2 = (n1 sin θ1) / n2sin θ2 = (1 sin 31.2°) / 1.523θ2 = 19.9°

Light with a Wavelength of 589 Nm in a Vacuum