Three slabs of different types of glass of uniform thickness are in contact with one another.The materials have indices of refraction , ,and where and .A beam of light starting in air is incident on the surface of material 1 at an angle of incidence of 35 $\degree$.The beam continues through material 1,material 2,and material 3,finally emerging into the air again.In which of materials 1,2,or 3,or air (when the beam emerges back into the air)does the beam experience the largest angle of refraction?
A)material 1
B)material 2
C)material 3
D)air

Question

Three slabs of different types of glass of uniform thickness are in contact with one another.The materials have indices of refraction  ,  ,and  where  and  .A beam of light starting in air is incident on the surface of material 1 at an angle of incidence of 35 $\degree$.The beam continues through material 1,material 2,and material 3,finally emerging into the air again.In which of materials 1,2,or 3,or air (when the beam emerges back into the air)does the beam experience the largest angle of refraction?
A)material 1 
B)material 2 
C)material 3 
D)air

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The angle of refraction is given by Snell's law:
n1 * sin(theta1) = n2 * sin(theta2)
where n1 and n2 are the refractive indices of the media, and theta1 and theta2 are the angles of incidence and refraction, respectively.
Since the angle of incidence is the same for all three materials and air, we only need to compare the refractive indices to determine where the angle of refraction is largest. 
n1 < n2 < n3 < n_air
Therefore, the largest angle of refraction will occur in air when the beam emerges back. Answer choice D is correct.

Three Slabs of Different Types of Glass of Uniform Thickness °\degree°

Three Slabs of Different Types of Glass of Uniform Thickness $\degree$