At what angle does the light leave the glass?

In summary, the problem involves a rectangular block of glass (n = 1.52) surrounded by a liquid with n = 1.60. A ray of light is incident on the glass at point A with a 30.0° angle of incidence. Using the equation n1sintheta1 = n2sintheta2, the angle of refraction at point A is found to be 28.359°. To find the angle of incidence on the surface containing point B, the equation is rearranged to find theta2, resulting in an angle of 53.13°.
  • #1
phys62
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Homework Statement


The drawing shows a rectangular block of glass (n = 1.52) surrounded by a liquid with n = 1.60. A ray of light is incident on the glass at point A with a 30.0° angle of incidence. At what angle does the ray leave the glass at point B?

http://edugen.wiley.com/edugen/courses/crs1507/art/qb/qu/c26/ch26p_18.gif


Homework Equations


n1sintheta1 = n2sintheta2



The Attempt at a Solution


(1.52)sin(30) = (1.6)sintheta2
theta2 = 28.359

I have no idea what I did wrong.. should the angle be negative??
 
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  • #2
theta2 = 28.359
This is the angle of refraction at point A. From that find the angle of incidence on the surface containing point B.
 
  • #3
Ohh, is this right then..?

sintheta2 = (1.6) sin30/1
theta2 = 53.13
 
  • #4
Nevermind, I got it :] 53.13 degrees is the answer. Thanks!
 

Related to At what angle does the light leave the glass?

1. What is the angle of refraction for light leaving a glass surface?

The angle of refraction for light leaving a glass surface depends on the angle of incidence, which is the angle at which the light enters the glass. This relationship is described by Snell's Law, which states that the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction is constant for a given pair of materials.

2. How does the density of the glass affect the angle at which light leaves it?

The density of the glass does not directly affect the angle at which light leaves it. However, the refractive index of glass, which is related to its density, does have an effect on the angle of refraction. This is because a higher refractive index means that light will bend more as it passes through the glass, resulting in a larger angle of refraction.

3. Does the color of the light affect the angle at which it leaves the glass?

No, the color of the light does not have an impact on the angle at which it leaves the glass. The angle of refraction is determined by the properties of the glass and the angle of incidence, not the color of the light.

4. Can the angle of incidence and angle of refraction be equal when light leaves the glass?

Yes, it is possible for the angle of incidence and angle of refraction to be equal when light leaves the glass. This occurs when the light is entering the glass at a 90 degree angle, known as the critical angle. At this angle, the light will not pass through the glass and will instead be reflected back into the original material.

5. How does the shape of the glass surface affect the angle at which light leaves it?

The shape of the glass surface can affect the angle at which light leaves it in certain cases. For example, if the glass has a curved surface, the angle of refraction will vary depending on where the light enters the glass. However, for a flat glass surface, the angle of incidence and angle of refraction will be constant across the entire surface.

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