Question

In example 18. 4 of the text, the deflection angle of the laser beam as it exits the prism is 22. 6º. If the prism had been made of glass instead of polystyrene plastic, what would the deflection angle have been?.

Answer 1

The deflection angle would have been 37.29º if the prism had been made of polystyrene plastic.

What is the deflection angle?

A deflection angle is an angle between the onward extension of the previous leg and the line ahead.

Here,

deflection angle as laser enters the beam, B = 22.6º

refraction index of glass, n1= 1.52

refraction index of polystyrene plastic, n2 = 1.59

for the second surface,

B  = 45º - 22.6º

B  = 22.40º

According to Snell's law:

n1 sinФ1 = n2 sinФ2

sin B / sinФ = n1 / n2

sinФ = (sin 22.40º) * ( 1/ 1.59)

Ф = 37.29º

Thus,

The deflection angle would have been 37.29º if the prism had been made of polystyrene plastic.

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