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A_lilah
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Homework Statement
Can a converging lens in air become a diverging lens in a different refractive medium?
Homework Equations
n1sin(θ1)=n2sin(θ2)
The Attempt at a Solution
I was thinking that it would not matter what medium the lens was in, as light would still hit the lens the same way and converge (I was trying to picture using a magnifying glass underwater- it would still magnify, just a bit less because the light would bend less). My question comes when trying to figure out the angles of refraction when the lens is in a medium whose index of refraction is greater than glass (for example, what would happen if there was a magnifying glass inside a diamond, which has an n= 2.419 according to wikipedia):
2.419sin(45) = 1.5sin(θ)
solving for θ:
θ = sin-1(2.419sin(45)/1.5) = sin-1(1.710/1.5)
1.710/1.5 is obviously greater than 1, which is not in sine's domain... I just don't understand what that means.
Thanks for the help :)
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