AP Physics 2 : Optics

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Physics 2

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Example Questions

Example Question #21 : Snell's Law

Light travels from air to water . If the wavelength of incident light is , determine the wavelength of refracted light.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Snell's law:

Where

is the respective incident angle

is the respective velocity of the light

is the respective wavelength

is the respective index of refraction

Snells law for varsity fixed

Use

Solve for

Plug in values:

Example Question #22 : Snell's Law

Light travels from air to water . If the wavelength of incident light is , determine the wavelength of refracted light.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Snell's law:

Where

is the respective incident angle

is the respective velocity of the light

is the respective wavelength

is the respective index of refraction

Snells law for varsity fixed

Use Snell's law:

Solve for

Plug in values:

Example Question #461 : Ap Physics 2

Light travels from a vacuum, , to a material with . What will be the velocity in the new medium?

Possible Answers:

None of these

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Snell's law:

Where

is the respective incident angle

is the respective velocity of the light

is the respective wavelength

is the respective index of refraction

Snells law for varsity fixed

Use Snell's law

Solve for :

The velocity of light in a vacuum:

Plug in values:

Example Question #471 : Ap Physics 2

Light travels from a vacuum, , to a material with . What will be the velocity in the new medium?

Possible Answers:

None of these

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Snell's Law:

Where

is the respective incident angle

is the respective velocity of the light

is the respective wavelength

is the respective index of refraction

Snells law for varsity fixed

Use Snell's law:

Solve for

The velocity of light in a vacuum:

Plug in values:

Example Question #21 : Snell's Law

Light travels from a vacuum, , to a material with . What will be the velocity in the new medium?

Possible Answers:

None of these

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Snell's Law:

Where

is the respective incident angle

is the respective velocity of the light

is the respective wavelength

is the respective index of refraction

Snells law for varsity fixed

Use Snell's law:

Solve for

The velocity of light in a vacuum,

Plug in values:

Example Question #22 : Snell's Law

Light travels from water to diamond . If the angle of incidence was , determine the angle of refraction.

Possible Answers:

None of these

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Snell's law:

Where

is the respective incident angle

is the respective velocity of the light

is the respective wavelength

is the respective index of refraction

Snells law for varsity fixed

Use Snell's law

Solve for :

Plug in values:

Example Question #21 : Snell's Law

Light of wavelength strikes an interface of transparent materials at and angle of incidence of . The angle of refraction is . Determine the wavelength of the light in the new material.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Snell's Law:

Where

is the respective incident angle

is the respective velocity of the light

is the respective wavelength

is the respective index of refraction

Snells law for varsity fixed

Use Snell's law:

Plug in values:

Solve for :

Example Question #27 : Snell's Law

Light travels from water to diamond . If the wavelength of incident light was , determine the wavelength of refracted light.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Snell's Law:

Where

is the respective incident angle

is the respective velocity of the light

is the respective wavelength

is the respective index of refraction

Snells law for varsity fixed

Use Snell's law:

Solve for :

Plug in values:

Example Question #21 : Snell's Law

Light travels from a vacuum to a material with . What will be the velocity in the new medium?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Snell's Law:

Where

is the respective incident angle

is the respective velocity of the light

is the respective wavelength

is the respective index of refraction

Snells law for varsity fixed

Use Snell's law:

Solve for :

The velocity of light in a vacuum is

Plug in values:

Example Question #25 : Snell's Law

Light travels from water to an unknown transparent medium. The angle of incidence is . The angle of refraction is . Determine the speed of light in the new medium.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Snell's Law:

Where

is the respective incident angle

is the respective velocity of the light

is the respective wavelength

is the respective index of refraction

Snells law for varsity fixed

Use Snell's law:

and

Where subscript represents water, subscript represents the unknown medium, and subscript represents vacuum

Plug in values:

Solve for :

Solve for :

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