Question

What is the index of refraction of a refractive medium if the angle of incidence in air (n=1.0003) is 87 degrees and the angle of refraction is 10 degrees?

Answer 1

Given:

The refractive index of the air, n₁=1.0003

The angle of incidence, θ₁=87°

The angle of refraction, θ₂=10°

To find:

The refractive index of the medium.

Explanation:

From the snell's law,

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

Where n₂ is the refractive index of the medium.

On substituting the known values,

$\begin{gathered} 1.0003\sin87\degree=n_2\sin10\degree \\ \implies n_2=\frac{1.0003\times\sin87\degree}{\sin10\degree} \\ =5.75 \end{gathered}$

Final answer:

Thus the refractive index of the medium is 5.75