A ray of light is passing through a medium making an angle of 45°. If the refractive index of the medium is 1.4, calculate the angle of refraction. [Ans: 30°)​

By Snell's law, we can see that the angle of refraction is 30.34°

Explanation:

Snell's law says that:

If a ray in a medium of refractive index n₁, insides with an angle θ₁ in another medium with refractive index n₂, then the angle of refraction θ₂ is given by:

n₁*sin(θ₁) = n₂*sin(θ₂)

We know that:

The incidence angle is 45°, then: θ₁ = 45°

We can assume that the first medium is air, then n₁ = 1

The refractive index of the other medium is 1.4, then n₂ = 1.4

Replacing these in the Snell's law equation we get:

1*sin(45°) = 1.4*sin(θ₂)

Now we can solve this for the angle of refraction:

sin(45°)/1.4 = sin(θ₂)

Asin(sin(45°)/1.4 ) = Asin( sin(θ₂)) =  θ₂ = 30.34°

So the angle of refraction is 30.34°

thermophiles, notice the prefix thermo.