Question

A layer of oil (n = 1.46) floats on an unknown liquid. A ray of light originates in the oil and passes into the unknown liquid. The angle of incidence is 67.0°, and the angle of refraction is 50.0°. What is the index of refraction of the unknown liquid?

Answer 1

Answer:

1.75

Explanation:

refractive index of oil, n1 = 1.46

angle of incidence, i = 67°

angle of refraction, r = 50°

Let the refractive index of unknown liquid is n2.

According to Snell's law

Refractive index of medium 2 with respect to medium 1 = Sin i / Sin r

Here medium 1 is oil and medium 2 is unknown liquid.

$_{1}^{2}\textrm{n}=\frac{n_2}{n_1}=\frac{Sin i}{Sin r}$

$\frac{n_2}{1.46}=\frac{Sin 67^{\circ}}{Sin 50^{\circ}}$

$\frac{n_2}{1.46}=\frac{0.92}{0.766}$

n2 = 1.75

Thus, the refractive index of unknown liquid is 1.75