Question

A light ray passes from water to diamond with an angle of incidence of \(75^{\circ}\). Calculate the angle of refraction. Discuss the meaning of your answer.

Answer 1

The refractive index is 1,333 for water and 2,42 for diamond. We know the angle of incidence, so we are ready to use Snell's Law.

Substitute values and solve
According to Snell's Law:
\[
\begin{aligned}
n_{1} \sin \theta_{1} &=n_{2} \sin \theta_{2} \\
1,33 \sin 75^{\circ} &=2,42 \sin \theta_{2} \\
\sin \theta_{2} &=0,531 \\
\theta_{2} &=32,1^{\circ}
\end{aligned}
\]

Discuss the answer
The light ray passes from a medium of low refractive index to one of high refractive index. Therefore, the light ray is bent towards the normal.