Fundamentals of Physics Extended (10th Edition)

Published by Wiley
ISBN 10: 1-11823-072-8
ISBN 13: 978-1-11823-072-5

Chapter 33 - Electromagnetic Waves - Questions - Page 1000: 7

Answer

We can rank the materials according to the index of refraction: $a \gt b \gt c$

Work Step by Step

Let $n_a$ be the index of refraction of material $a$ Let $\theta_a$ be the angle between the incident ray and a horizontal line. Let $n_b$ be the index of refraction of material $b$ Let $\theta_b$ be the angle between the refracted ray and a horizontal line. Note that $\theta_b \gt \theta_a$ Then $sin~\theta_b \gt sin~\theta_a$ According to Snell's law: $n_a~sin~\theta_a = n_b~sin~\theta_b$ $\frac{n_a}{n_b} = \frac{sin~\theta_b}{sin~\theta_a} \gt 1$ Therefore, $n_a \gt n_b$ Let $n_b$ be the index of refraction of material $b$ Let $\theta_b$ be the angle between the incident ray and a vertical line. Let $n_c$ be the index of refraction of material $c$ Let $\theta_c$ be the angle between the refracted ray and a vertical line. Note that $\theta_c \gt \theta_b$ Then $sin~\theta_c \gt sin~\theta_b$ According to Snell's law: $n_b~sin~\theta_b = n_c~sin~\theta_c$ $\frac{n_b}{n_c} = \frac{sin~\theta_c}{sin~\theta_b} \gt 1$ Therefore, $n_b \gt n_c$ We can rank the materials according to the index of refraction: $a \gt b \gt c$
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