The velocities of light in air and glass are 3.0 x 108 8 ms−1 − 1 and 2.0 x 108 8 ms−1 − 1 respectively. If the angle of refraction is 30º, the sine of the ...

The velocities of light in air and glass are 3.0 x 108 ${}^8$ms−1 ${}^{-1}$ and 2.0 x 108 ${}^8$ms−1 ${}^{-1}$ respectively. If the angle of refraction is 30º, the sine of the angle of incidence is? 

Answer Details

The relationship between the angle of incidence and the angle of refraction can be determined using Snell's law, which states that the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction is equal to the ratio of the velocities of light in the two media. We can use this relationship to find the sine of the angle of incidence: sin(incidence) / sin(refraction) = velocity of light in air / velocity of light in glass sin(incidence) / sin(30) = 3 x 10^8 / 2 x 10^8 sin(incidence) = sin(30) x (3 / 2) sin(incidence) = 0.5 x (3 / 2) sin(incidence) = 0.75 So, the sine of the angle of incidence is 0.75.