Question

 A ray of light in corn oil is incident striking with an angle of incidence of 40 degrees on water. Calculate the angle of refraction to the nearest degree

Answer 1

Given:

$n_{\rm oil}=1.48$

$n_{\rm water}=1.33$

$\theta_i=40^{\circ}$

The Snell's law says

$$n_{\rm oil}\sin\theta_i=n_{\rm water}\sin\theta_r$$

Hence,

$$\sin\theta_r=n_{\rm oil}\sin\theta_i/n_{\rm water}\\ =1.48\sin 40^{\circ}/1.33=0.715$$

$$\theta_r=46^{\circ}$$