Find the value of the angle of emergence from the prism. Refractive index of the glass is √ 3 .
Correct Answer :
60°
Solution :
The correct option/answer is 60°.
Based on the standard physics problem details and the accompanying diagram, we are given:
1. A glass prism with a prism angle (angle of the prism) of .
2. A light ray incident on the first refracting face of the prism at an angle of incidence .
3. The refractive index of the glass prism is and the surrounding medium is air with a refractive index of .
To find the angle of emergence (), we follow a step-by-step approach using Snell's Law and the geometry of a prism:
Step 1: Apply Snell's Law at the first refracting surface
Snell's Law at the first boundary (air-to-glass interface) is given by:
where is the angle of refraction inside the prism.
Substitute the given values into the equation:
Since , we have:
Dividing both sides by :
This gives the first refraction angle:
Step 2: Use prism geometry to find the angle of incidence at the second surface
For any prism, the relation between the prism angle and the internal refraction angles and is:
Substitute and :
Solving for :
Step 3: Apply Snell's Law at the second refracting surface (glass-to-air interface)
Snell's Law at the boundary where the light ray emerges into the air is:
Substitute the values into the equation:
Since :
Taking the inverse sine of both sides:
Thus, the value of the angle of emergence from the prism is 60°.
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