AP Physics 2 : Optics

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Physics 2

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Example Questions

Example Question #71 : Optics

Light in a vacuum hits the surface of an unknown material with an angle of incidence of \(\displaystyle 77^\circ\). The angle of refraction is \(\displaystyle 68^\circ\). What is the index of refraction of the unknown material?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 1.17\)

\(\displaystyle 1.32\)

\(\displaystyle 1.46\)

\(\displaystyle 1.05\)

\(\displaystyle 1.25\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 1.05\)

Explanation:

Snell's Law:

\(\displaystyle \frac{sin\theta_1}{sin\theta_2}=\frac{v_1}{v_2}=\frac{\lambda_1}{\lambda_2}=\frac{n_2}{n_1}\)

Where

\(\displaystyle \theta\) is the respective incident angle

\(\displaystyle v\) is the respective velocity of the light

\(\displaystyle \lambda\) is the respective wavelength

\(\displaystyle n\) is the respective index of refraction

Snells law for varsity fixed

Use the following version of Snell's law:

\(\displaystyle \frac{sin\theta_1}{sin\theta_2}=\frac{n_2}{n_1}\)

Solving for \(\displaystyle n_2\)

\(\displaystyle n_1\frac{sin\theta_1}{sin\theta_2}=n_2\)

Plugging in values

\(\displaystyle 1*\frac{sin77^\circ}{sin68^\circ}=n_2\)

\(\displaystyle 1.05=n_2\)

Example Question #72 : Optics

Suppose that a ray of light passes from air into another medium. The light ray strikes the surface of the medium at an angle of \(\displaystyle 30^{o}\) with respect to the normal. If the light ray is refracted such that it bends \(\displaystyle 15^{o}\) with respect to the normal, what is the index of refraction of this medium?

Note: The index of refraction of air is \(\displaystyle 1\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 1.69\)

\(\displaystyle 1.93\)

\(\displaystyle 1.50\)

\(\displaystyle 1.33\)

\(\displaystyle 1.12\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 1.93\)

Explanation:

In this question, we're told that a ray of light is hitting a medium which causes it to undergo refraction. We're provided with each of the angles with respect to the normal, as well as the index of refraction of the first medium. We're asked to find the index of refraction for the second medium.

First and foremost, we'll need to use the equation for Snell's law.

\(\displaystyle n_{1}sin(\Theta _{1})=n_{2}sin(\Theta _{2})\)

If we treat \(\displaystyle n_{1}\) as the index of refraction for air, we can then use \(\displaystyle n_{2}\) as the index of refraction for our unknown medium. Then, we can rearrange the equation to isolate the \(\displaystyle n_{2}\) variable.

\(\displaystyle n_{2}=n_{1}\frac{sin(\Theta _{1})}{sin(\Theta _{2})}\)

Now, we can plug in the values that we know to solve for our answer.

\(\displaystyle n_{2}=1\frac{sin(30^{o})}{sin(15^{o})}=1.93\)

Example Question #73 : Optics

A beam of light in a vacuum hits a crystal with an angle of incidence of \(\displaystyle 45^\circ\). The angle of refraction is determined to be \(\displaystyle 18^\circ\), determine the index of refraction of the crystal

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 2.96\)

\(\displaystyle 1.52\)

\(\displaystyle 1.11\)

\(\displaystyle 2.29\)

\(\displaystyle 3.20\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 2.29\)

Explanation:

Using Snell's Law:

\(\displaystyle n_1sin\theta_1=n_2sin\theta_2\)

The index of refraction of a vacuum is unity, \(\displaystyle n=1\)

Plugging in values:

\(\displaystyle 1sin45^\circ=n_2sin18^\circ\)

\(\displaystyle n_2=2.29\)

Example Question #74 : Optics

A photon moving in air enters a region with index of refraction \(\displaystyle n_{r}\). The region has length \(\displaystyle d\). At the end of the region, there's a mirror that reflects the light back through the region to the air. A detector measures that the photon is in the region for time \(\displaystyle t\). What is \(\displaystyle n_{r}\)? Let the speed of light be \(\displaystyle c\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{2dc}{t}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{ct}{d}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{2d}{t}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{t}{2d}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{ct}{2d}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{ct}{2d}\)

Explanation:

The index of refraction of a material is equal to \(\displaystyle \frac{c}{v}\), where \(\displaystyle c\) is the speed of light in a vacuum and \(\displaystyle v\) is the speed of light in the material. In the material given, the light travels a distance of \(\displaystyle 2d\) (since it travels to the mirror and back) in a time \(\displaystyle t\). Speed is distance over time, so the light's speed in the material is \(\displaystyle \frac{2d}{t}\). Thus the index of refraction is 

\(\displaystyle \frac{c}{\frac{2d}{t}}\)

Which when simplified, gives:

\(\displaystyle \frac{ct}{2d}\)

Example Question #75 : Optics

Light of wavelength \(\displaystyle 650nm\) goes from vacuum to an unknown liquid with an angle of incidence of \(\displaystyle 33^\circ\) and has an angle of diffraction of \(\displaystyle 15^\circ\). Determine the index of refraction in the unknown liquid.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 3.65\)

\(\displaystyle 2.10\)

None of these

\(\displaystyle 1.45\)

\(\displaystyle 1.33\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 2.10\)

Explanation:

Using Snell's law:

\(\displaystyle \frac{n_1}{n_2}=\frac{v_2}{v_1}=\frac{sin\theta_2}{sin\theta_1}=\frac{\lambda_2}{\lambda_1}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{n_2}=\frac{sin15^\circ}{sin33^\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle n_2=2.10\)

Example Question #76 : Optics

Light of wavelength \(\displaystyle 650nm\) goes from vacuum to an unknown liquid with an angle of incidence of \(\displaystyle 33^\circ\) and has an angle of diffraction of \(\displaystyle 15^\circ\). Determine the wavelength in the unknown liquid.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 309nm\)

None of these

\(\displaystyle 388nm\)

\(\displaystyle 1001nm\)

\(\displaystyle 488nm\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 309nm\)

Explanation:

Using Snell's law:

\(\displaystyle \frac{n_1}{n_2}=\frac{v_2}{v_1}=\frac{sin\theta_2}{sin\theta_1}=\frac{\lambda_2}{\lambda_1}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{sin 15^\circ}{sin 33^\circ}=\frac{\lambda_2}{650nm}\)

\(\displaystyle \lambda_2=309nm\)

 

Example Question #77 : Optics

Light in a medium with index of refraction \(\displaystyle n_{1}\) arrives at a boundary with another medium (with index of refraction \(\displaystyle n_{2}\)) at an angle of \(\displaystyle 30\degree\) to the normal. The refracted light exits the boundary at an angle of \(\displaystyle 50\degree\) from the normal. What is \(\displaystyle \frac{n_{2}}{n_{1}}\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle .653\)

\(\displaystyle .600\)

\(\displaystyle .742\)

\(\displaystyle 1.347\)

\(\displaystyle 1.53\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle .653\)

Explanation:

This is a direct application of snell's law. 

\(\displaystyle n_{1}sin(\theta _{1})=n_{2}sin(\theta _{2})\)

\(\displaystyle n_{1}sin(30\degree)=n_{2}sin(50\degree)\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{n_{2}}{n_{1}}=\frac{sin(30\degree)}{sin(50\degree)}\)

This gives

\(\displaystyle .653\)

Example Question #78 : Optics

How long does it take light to travel \(\displaystyle 10.0m\) in water (\(\displaystyle n=1.33\))?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 4.4*10^8s\)

\(\displaystyle 4.4*10^{-7}s\)

\(\displaystyle 4.4*10^7s\)

\(\displaystyle 4.4*10^{-8}s\)

\(\displaystyle 4.4*10^{-9}s\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 4.4*10^{-8}s\)

Explanation:

Using Snell's law:

\(\displaystyle v=\frac{c}{n}=\frac{3*10^8}{1.33}=225563910\frac{m}{s}\)

To find the time, we need to use \(\displaystyle v=\frac{x}{t},\) where \(\displaystyle x\) is the distance traveled. Putting in our values, we get:

\(\displaystyle t=\frac{x}{v}=\frac{10}{225563910}=4.4*10^{-8}s\)

Example Question #79 : Optics

A laser beam traveling from air to water (\(\displaystyle n=1.33\)) at an angle \(\displaystyle 35^{\circ}\) relative to normal. What is the angle of refraction for this scenario? 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 13.1^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 27.9^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 24.2^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 41.8^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 33.1^{\circ}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 24.2^{\circ}\)

Explanation:

Using Snell's law:

 \(\displaystyle n_i sin\theta_i=n_r sin\theta_r\). The \(\displaystyle i\) subscript stands for incident, while the \(\displaystyle r\) stands for refraction. Here, we want to solve for the refraction angle. Let's plug in numbers:

\(\displaystyle 1sin(35\, ^{\circ})=1.33sin\theta_r\)

\(\displaystyle sin^{-1}(\frac{sin35^{\circ}}{1.33})=24.2^{\circ}\)

Example Question #80 : Optics

A laser beam traveling from air to glass (\(\displaystyle n=1.5\)) at an angle \(\displaystyle 90^{\circ}\) relative to normal. What is the angle of refraction for this scenario? 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 30^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 45^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 42^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 50^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 24^{\circ}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 42^{\circ}\)

Explanation:

Snell's Law states:

\(\displaystyle n_i sin\theta_i=n_r sin\theta_r\). The \(\displaystyle i\) subscript stands for incident, while the \(\displaystyle r\) stands for refraction. Here, we want to solve for the refraction angle. Let's plug in numbers:

\(\displaystyle 1sin(90^{\circ})=1.5sin\theta_r\)

\(\displaystyle sin^{-1}(\frac{1}{1.5})=42^{\circ}\)

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