The angle of incidence of the light ray on the air/plastic interface is 63° The angle of refraction of the light ray from the air/plastic interface is 47° Determine the refractive index of plastic? The index of refraction of air = 1.0003?

1 Answer
Feb 19, 2018

#1.22#

Explanation:

Snells’ Law states that #n_i xx sin(Theta_i) = n_r xx sin(Theta_r)#
where #Theta_i# = angle of incidence = #63^o#
#Theta_r# = angle of refraction = #47^o#
#n_i# = index of refraction of the incident medium = 1.0003 for air
#n_r# = index of refraction of the refractive medium (plastic)
#n_r * sin(Theta_r) = n_i xx sin(Theta_i)# ; #n_r xx sin(47) = 1.0003 xx sin(63)#
#n_r = (1.003 xx sin(63))/sin(47)# ; #n_r = 0.891/0.731 = 1.22#