Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321740904
ISBN 13: 978-0-32174-090-8

Chapter 23 - Ray Optics - Exercises and Problems - Page 691: 51

Answer

$1.57$

Work Step by Step

According to Snell's law, $$n_{air}\sin\theta_1=n_{plastic}\sin\theta_2$$ where $n_{air}=1$, $\theta_1$ is the incident angle, and $\theta_2$ is the refraction angle. $$ \sin\theta_1=n_{plastic}\sin\theta_2$$ According to the straight line formula $y=mx+b$ we can consider $\sin\theta_1=y$, $b=0$, $x=\sin\theta_2$, and $m={\rm slope}=n_{plastic}$. So we need to plot dots of $\sin\theta_1$ and $\sin\theta_2$ and try to find the best-fit line then its slope will be the index of refraction of the plastic piece. $$n_{plastic}={\rm slope}$$ From the graph below, $$n_{plastic}=\color{red}{\bf 1.57}$$
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