Answer to Question #152771 in Physics for Rochelle

Question

A light ray strikes a water/air surface at an angle of 46 degrees with respect to the normal. The refractive index for water is 1.33. Find the angle of refraction when the direction of the ray is from water to air.

Answer 1

According to the Snell's law

$\frac{\sin\alpha_1}{\sin\alpha_2}=\frac{n_2}{n_1}\to \frac{\sin46°}{\sin\alpha_2}=\frac{1}{1.33}\to$

$\sin\alpha_2=1.33\cdot\sin46°=0.9567\to \alpha_2=73°.$ Answer