Light is refracted through a diamond. If the angle of incidence is 38 ◦, and the angle of refraction is 16 ◦, what is the index of refraction?

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Answer 1 · 2018-04-20T00:11:49

#n_2=2.2#

Snell's law states:

#n_1sintheta_1= n_2sintheta_2#

I presume that the light is in air before it hits the diamond, so #n_1=1#

So to solve:
#n_2= sintheta_1/sintheta_2#

#n_2= sin(38^@)/sin(16^@)=2.2#

Answer 2 · 2018-04-20T00:25:35

The refractive index is around #2.2#.

We use Snell's law, which states that

#n=(sini)/(sinr)#

#i# is the angle of incidence

#r# is the angle of refraction

And so, we get:

#n=(sin38^@)/(sin16^@)#

#~~2.2#