M13. Problems on Refraction

Do the following problems in the electronic assessment of the same name. They're provided below so that you can work on them before opening the assessment. The problem descriptions are given in the applets' description windows. Values in red are randomized in WebAssign.

1. Click here to access the animation. Read the description accompanying the applet.

   1. Step the incident ray to an angle of 36^o. Determine the corresponding angle of refraction to the nearest degree. A protractor is not needed to read angles. You can determine an angle by using the legs of the corresponding right triangle.

   2. Determine the ratio of the index of refraction of the upper medium to that of the lower medium. Carry 3 significant figures in your calculation to minimize rounding error. Give your result to the nearest 0.05.

2. Click here to access the animation. Read the description accompanying the applet.

   1. Which medium has the greater index of refraction? Tell in a sentence (no equations!) how you know.

   2. Determine the value of the ratio n₂/n₁ to the nearest 0.01.

3. Click here to access the animation. Read the description accompanying the applet. Set Angle of Incidence 1 to 64.0^o and change the index of refraction in Medium 3 to 1.35.

   1. Which medium has the largest index of refraction (1,2,3)?

   2. Explain your answer to the previous question.

   3. Determine the angle of refraction in Medium 3 to the nearest 0.1^o.

   4. Explain in sentence form why it isn't necessary to know the index of refraction or angle of refraction in Medium 2.

4. Click here to open an applet. The problem is described in the applet's description window. Determine the following to the nearest 0.01.

   1. n₂/n₁

   2. n₃/n₂

   3. Describe in sentence form how you determined your answers. (no equations!)

5. Click here to access the animation. Read the description accompanying the applet. Change the vertex angle to 36^o. Step the incident ray to an angle of 40^o.

   1. Calculate the angle of refraction as the ray enters the prism from the air at Interface 1. Give your answer to the nearest 0.1^o.

   2. Calculate the angle of incidence at Interface 2 to the nearest 0.1^o.

   3. Calculate the angle of refraction at Interface 2 to the nearest 0.1^o.

6. Click here to access the animation. Read the description accompanying the applet. Step the angle of incidence to 44^o. Calculate the angular difference between the emerging red and violet rays to the nearest 0.01°. In order to achieve this precision, carry calculations in your calculator without intermediate rounding. Give your answer as a positive number.

7. Click here to access the animation. Read the description accompanying the applet. You may also find Figure 26-37 on page 897 of your text helpful. (Note that the animation is rotated from the text figure.) Run the animation to see how the angular difference depends on the index of refraction. Determine the value of the angle of refraction of the ray exiting the rain drop along the line of sight.

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