Physics
In the figure, PQ and PR are the two light rays emerging from an object P. The ray PQ is refracted as QS.
(a) State the special name given to the angle of incidence ∠PQN of the ray PQ.
(b) What is the angle of refraction for the refracted ray QS?
(c) Name the phenomenon that occurs if the angle of incidence ∠PQN is increased.
(d) The ray PR suffers partial reflection and refraction on the water-air surface. Give reason.
(e) Draw in the diagram the refracted ray for the incident ray PR and hence show the position of image of the object P by the letter P' when seen vertically from above.
Answer
(a) The angle of incidence ∠PQN is known as the critical angle.
(b) For the refracted ray QS, the angle of refraction is 90°.
(c) When the angle of incidence ∠PQN is increased, then the phenomenon that occurs is total internal reflection.
(d) For the ray PR, the angle of incidence is less than ∠PQN ( i.e the critical angle ). So according to the laws of reflection, ray PR suffers partial reflection and refraction.
(e) Below diagram shows the refracted ray and the position of image of the object P when seen vertically from above:
Related Questions
Figure shows a point source P inside a water container. Three rays A, B and C starting from the source P are shown up to the water surface.
(a) Show in the diagram, the path of these rays after striking the water surface. The critical angle for water-air surface is 48°.
(b) Name the phenomenon which the rays A, B and C exhibit.
A ray of light enters a glass slab ABDC as shown in figure and strikes at the centre O of the circular part AC of the slab. The critical angle of glass is 42°. Complete the path of the ray till it emerges out from the slab. Mark the angles in the diagram wherever necessary.
Figure below shows two rays A and B travelling from water to air. If the critical angle for water-air surface is 48°, complete the ray diagram showing the refracted rays for each. State conditions when the ray will suffer total internal reflection.
The refractive index of glass is 1.5. From a point P inside a glass slab, draw rays PA, PB and PC incident on the glass-air surface at an angle of incidence 30°, 42° and 60° respectively.
(a) In the diagram show the approximate direction of these rays as they emerge out of the slab.
(b) What is the angle of refraction for the ray PB?
(Take sin 42° = 2 / 3)