Call Now to Set Up Tutoring:

(888) 888-0446

High School Physics : Understanding Refraction

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for High School Physics

Create An Account

All High School Physics Resources

6 Diagnostic Tests 233 Practice Tests Question of the Day Flashcards Learn by Concept

Example Questions

Example Question #7 : Light And Electromagnetic Waves

A ray of light strikes the surface of a pond at an angle of $30^{\circ}$ to the vertical. If it is moving from air to water, what will be the angle of refraction?

$n_{water}=1.33$

$n_{air}=1.00$

Possible Answers:

$11.3 ^{\circ}$

$8.9^{\circ}$

$44.1^{\circ}$

$9.81^{\circ}$

$22.1^{\circ}$

Correct answer:

$22.1^{\circ}$

Explanation:

For this problem, use Snell's law: $n_1\sin(\Theta_1)=n_2\sin(\Theta_2)$ .

In this equation, $\small n$ is the index of refraction and $\Theta$ is the angle of refraction to the vertical. Using the values given in the question, we can find the resultant angle of refraction.

$n_1\sin(\Theta_1)=n_2\sin(\Theta_2)$

$1.00\sin(30^{\circ})=1.33\sin(\Theta_2)$

$0.5=1.33\sin(\Theta_2)$

$\frac{0.5}{1.33}=\sin(\Theta_2)$

$0.376=\sin(\Theta_2)$

Take the arcsin of both sides to find the value of $\Theta_2$ .

$\sin^{-1}(0.376)=\Theta_2$

$22.1^{\circ}=\Theta_2$

Report an Error

Example Question #8 : Light And Electromagnetic Waves

A new crystal is discovered with an index of refraction of 3.33 . What is the speed of light in this crystal?

$\cmall c=3*10^8 \frac{m}{s}$

Possible Answers:

$9*10^9\frac{m}{s}$

$3*10^8\frac{m}{s}$

$3*10^6\frac{m}{s}$

$9*10^7\frac{m}{s}$

$10*10^8\frac{m}{s}$

Correct answer:

$9*10^7\frac{m}{s}$

Explanation:

The relationship between speed of light and the index of refraction is:

$n=\frac{c}{v}$

In this formula, is the speed of light in a vacuum, is the observed speed of light in the substance, and is the index of refraction. We are given the speed of light in a vacuum and the index of refraction, allowing us ot solve for the speed of light in the crystal.

$3.33=\frac{3*10^8\frac{m}{s}}{v}$

$v=\frac{3*10^8\frac{m}{s}}{3.33}$

$v=9*10^7\frac{m}{s}$

Report an Error

Example Question #9 : Light And Electromagnetic Waves

A new crystal is discovered. The speed of light inside of this crystal is measured to be $2*10^8\frac{m}{s}$ . What is the index of refraction of the crystal?

$\small c=3*10^8\frac{m}{s}$

Possible Answers:

1.5

$\frac{2}{3}$

$3\frac{2}{3}$

Correct answer:

1.5

Explanation:

The relationship between speed of light and the index of refraction is:

$n=\frac{c}{v}$

In this formula, is the speed of light in a vacuum, is the observed speed of light in the substance, and is the index of refraction. We given the values for the speed of light in the crystal and the speed of light in a vacuum, allowing us to solve for the index of refraction.

Plug in our given values and solve.

$n=\frac{3*10^8\frac{m}{s}}{2*10^8\frac{m}{s}}$

n=1.5

Note that the index of refraction is a ratio of two velocities, and therefore has no units.

Report an Error

Example Question #741 : High School Physics

A certain gas has an index of refraction of 1.32 . What is the speed of light in the gas?

$\small c=3*10^8\frac{m}{s}$

Possible Answers:

$2.27\frac{m}{s}$

$2.27*10^8\frac{m}{s}$

$3.96*10^8\frac{m}{s}$

$3*10^8\frac{m}{s}$

$4.4*10^{-9}\frac{m}{s}$

Correct answer:

$2.27*10^8\frac{m}{s}$

Explanation:

The index of refraction is defined as the relationship between the speed of light in a vacuum over the speed of light in the gas/liquid/solid.

$n=\frac{c}{v}$

We know the index of refraction of the gas, and the speed of light in a vacuum. Using these values, we can solve for the speed of light in the gas.

$1.32=\frac{3*10^8\frac{m}{s}}{v}$

$v=\frac{3*10^8\frac{m}{s}}{1.32}$

$v=2.27*10^8\frac{m}{s}$

Report an Error

Example Question #1 : Understanding Refraction

Light strikes a crystal from the air at an angle of $12^\circ$ to the normal. Inside the crystal, the angle of light is $8^\circ$ to the normal. What is the index of refraction in the crystal?

Possible Answers:

1.49

0.35

0.07

1.67

0.67

Correct answer:

1.49

Explanation:

To solve this problem, use Snell's law:

$n_1\sin(\theta_1)=n_2\sin(\theta_2)$

We are given the angle of incidence and the angle of refraction. The index of refraction for air is $\small 1.00$ . Using these values, we can find the index of refraction in the crystal.

$(1.00)\sin(12^\circ)=n_2\sin(8^\circ)$

$\frac{\sin(12^\circ)}{\sin(8^\circ)}=n_2$

1.49=n_2

Report an Error

Example Question #2 : Understanding Refraction

A beam of light hits a crystal at an angle of $31.5^\circ$ to the normal. The light is refracted in the crystal and changes to an angle of $21.2^\circ$ to the normal. What is the index of refraction of the crystal?

Possible Answers:

0.69

0.12

8.47

1.44

1.33

Correct answer:

1.44

Explanation:

To solve this problem, use Snell's law:

$n_1\sin(\theta_1)=n_2\sin(\theta_2)$

Remember that air has an index of refraction of 1.00 . Using this value and the given values for the angle of incidence and angle of refraction, we can find the index of refraction of the crystal.

$n_1\sin(\theta_1)=n_2\sin(\theta_2)$

$1.00*\sin(31.5^\circ)=n_2\sin(21.2^\circ)$

$\frac{\sin(31.5^\circ)}{\sin(21.2^\circ)}=n_2$

1.44=n_2

Report an Error

Example Question #3 : Understanding Refraction

A beam of light hits a crystal at an angle of incidence of $24.3^\circ$ . If the index of refraction of the crystal is 1.57 , what is the angle of refraction inside of the crystal?

Possible Answers:

$15.2^\circ$

$3.82^\circ$

$-0.49^\circ$

$39.5^\circ$

$0.262^\circ$

Correct answer:

$15.2^\circ$

Explanation:

To solve this problem, use Snell's law:

$n_1\sin(\theta_1)=n_2\sin(\theta_2)$

Remember that air has an index of refraction of 1.00 . We know the index of refraction for each material and the initial angle of incidence. Using these values, we can find the angle of refraction.

$n_1\sin(\theta_1)=n_2\sin(\theta_2)$

$1.00*\sin(24.3^\circ)=1.57*\sin(\theta_2)$

$\frac{\sin24.3^\circ}{1.57}=\sin(\theta_2)$

$0.262=\sin(\theta_2)$

$15.2^o=\theta_2$

Report an Error

View Tutors

Ester
Certified Tutor

View Tutors

Barbara
Certified Tutor

Baldwin-Wallace College, Bachelor in Arts, Mathematics Teacher Education.

View Tutors

Larry
Certified Tutor

Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Bachelors, Microbiology/Chemistry.

All High School Physics Resources

6 Diagnostic Tests 233 Practice Tests Question of the Day Flashcards Learn by Concept

Popular Subjects

GMAT Tutors in Atlanta, Spanish Tutors in San Diego, GMAT Tutors in Phoenix, Calculus Tutors in New York City, ISEE Tutors in Seattle, ACT Tutors in Los Angeles, Physics Tutors in Atlanta, Physics Tutors in Seattle, Math Tutors in Phoenix, Statistics Tutors in Washington DC

Popular Courses & Classes

SSAT Courses & Classes in Philadelphia, ACT Courses & Classes in Miami, MCAT Courses & Classes in Boston, GRE Courses & Classes in Phoenix, ISEE Courses & Classes in Los Angeles, ISEE Courses & Classes in Atlanta, GMAT Courses & Classes in Washington DC, GRE Courses & Classes in Dallas Fort Worth, GRE Courses & Classes in Denver, SSAT Courses & Classes in Seattle

Popular Test Prep

SSAT Test Prep in Miami, ISEE Test Prep in Denver, GMAT Test Prep in Los Angeles, ISEE Test Prep in New York City, SAT Test Prep in Philadelphia, LSAT Test Prep in Los Angeles, GMAT Test Prep in Washington DC, GMAT Test Prep in Phoenix, ACT Test Prep in Miami, SSAT Test Prep in Chicago

DMCA Complaint

If you believe that content available by means of the Website (as defined in our Terms of Service) infringes one or more of your copyrights, please notify us by providing a written notice (“Infringement Notice”) containing the information described below to the designated agent listed below. If Varsity Tutors takes action in response to an Infringement Notice, it will make a good faith attempt to contact the party that made such content available by means of the most recent email address, if any, provided by such party to Varsity Tutors.

Your Infringement Notice may be forwarded to the party that made the content available or to third parties such as ChillingEffects.org.

Please be advised that you will be liable for damages (including costs and attorneys’ fees) if you materially misrepresent that a product or activity is infringing your copyrights. Thus, if you are not sure content located on or linked-to by the Website infringes your copyright, you should consider first contacting an attorney.

Please follow these steps to file a notice:

You must include the following:

A physical or electronic signature of the copyright owner or a person authorized to act on their behalf; An identification of the copyright claimed to have been infringed; A description of the nature and exact location of the content that you claim to infringe your copyright, in \ sufficient detail to permit Varsity Tutors to find and positively identify that content; for example we require a link to the specific question (not just the name of the question) that contains the content and a description of which specific portion of the question – an image, a link, the text, etc – your complaint refers to; Your name, address, telephone number and email address; and A statement by you: (a) that you believe in good faith that the use of the content that you claim to infringe your copyright is not authorized by law, or by the copyright owner or such owner’s agent; (b) that all of the information contained in your Infringement Notice is accurate, and (c) under penalty of perjury, that you are either the copyright owner or a person authorized to act on their behalf.

Send your complaint to our designated agent at:

Charles Cohn Varsity Tutors LLC
101 S. Hanley Rd, Suite 300
St. Louis, MO 63105

Or fill out the form below:

Do not fill in this field

Contact Information

* Full legal name

Company name

* Phone number

* Email address

Address

* Address1

Address2

* City

* State

* Zipcode

* Country

Complaint Details

* URL of copyrighted work (where your original material is located)

* Please describe the copyrighted work so that it may be easily identified

I am the owner, or an agent authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.

I have a good faith belief that the use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.

This notification is accurate.

I acknowledge that there may be adverse legal consequences for making false or bad faith allegations of copyright infringement by using this process.

* Signature (your digital signature is legally binding)

HIGH SCHOOL

GRADUATE SCHOOL

K-8

Search 50+ Tests

math tutoring

science tutoring

foreign languages

elementary tutoring

other

Search 350+ Subjects

High School Physics : Understanding Refraction

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for High School Physics

All High School Physics Resources

Example Questions

Example Question #7 : Light And Electromagnetic Waves

Example Question #8 : Light And Electromagnetic Waves

Example Question #9 : Light And Electromagnetic Waves

Example Question #741 : High School Physics

Example Question #1 : Understanding Refraction

Example Question #2 : Understanding Refraction

Example Question #3 : Understanding Refraction

All High School Physics Resources

Report an issue with this question

DMCA Complaint

Contact Information

Address

Complaint Details

Email address:
Your name:
Feedback: