Snell's Law

Rarely Tested

Snell's Law

### Formula

$$\mu_1\sin i=\mu_2\sin r$$

### Terminologies

- ΞΌ1, ΞΌ2 β†’ Refractive indices of mediums.

- i β†’ Angle of incidence.

- r β†’ Angle of refraction.

### Conditions / Special Cases

From air to medium:

$$\sin i=\mu\sin r$$

### Usage

- Used to calculate angles in refraction.

Question 1

Consider two isosceles prisms 1 and 2 with prism angles $$A_1$$ and $$A_2$$ and refractive indices $$n_1$$ and $$n_2$$, respectively, as shown in the figure. The faces $$a_1b_1$$ and $$a_2b_2$$ are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the mirror $$M$$. If a ray of light is incident on the face $$a_1c_1$$ and emerges from the face $$a_2c_2$$, then the correct statement(s) is/are:

image
Question 2

As shown in the figure, a ray $$AB$$ of unpolarized light enters from water of refractive index $$n_w=4/3$$ into a medium of refractive index $$n_p=4/\sqrt{3}$$ after passing through a glass plate of refractive index $$n_g=1.5$$ and a layer of water. At a particular incident angle $$i$$ the reflected ray $$CD$$ is polarized in the direction as shown in the figure. The value of $$i$$ (in degrees) is:

image

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