MCQEasyJEE 2026Diffraction & Polarisation

JEE Physics 2026 Question with Solution

An unpolarised light is incident at an interface of two dielectric media having refractive indices of 22 (incident medium) and 232\sqrt{3} (refracted medium) respectively. To satisfy the condition that reflected and refracted rays are perpendicular to each other, the angle of incidence is _____.

  • A

    4545^\circ

  • B

    3030^\circ

  • C

    1010^\circ

  • D

    6060^\circ

Answer

Correct answer:D

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: Refractive index of incident medium is n1=2n_1 = 2 and refractive index of refracted medium is n2=23n_2 = 2\sqrt{3}.

Find: The angle of incidence for which the reflected and refracted rays are perpendicular.

If the reflected and refracted rays are perpendicular, then the angle of incidence is the Brewster angle.

Using Brewster’s law,

taniB=n2n1\tan i_B = \frac{n_2}{n_1}

Substituting the given refractive indices,

taniB=232=3\tan i_B = \frac{2\sqrt{3}}{2} = \sqrt{3}

Therefore,

iB=60i_B = 60^\circ

Hence, the angle of incidence is 6060^\circ and the correct option is D.

Step-wise Explanation

Given: The two dielectric media have refractive indices 22 and 232\sqrt{3}.

Find: The required angle of incidence.

Step 1: Using the condition for perpendicular reflected and refracted rays.

When reflected and refracted rays are perpendicular to each other, the angle of incidence equals the Brewster angle.

Step 2: Applying Brewster’s law.

taniB=n2n1\tan i_B = \dfrac{n_2}{n_1}

Step 3: Substituting the given refractive indices.

taniB=232=3\tan i_B = \dfrac{2\sqrt{3}}{2} = \sqrt{3}

Step 4: Determining the angle of incidence.

iB=60i_B = 60^\circ

Step 5: Final conclusion. The angle of incidence is 6060^\circ, corresponding to option D.

Common mistakes

  • Using taniB=n1n2\tan i_B = \frac{n_1}{n_2} instead of taniB=n2n1\tan i_B = \frac{n_2}{n_1} for light going from the incident medium to the refracted medium. This reverses the ratio and gives the wrong angle. Always use refractive index of the refracted medium over that of the incident medium.

  • Not recognizing that perpendicular reflected and refracted rays imply Brewster’s condition. Without this idea, students may try to apply Snell’s law directly in an unnecessary way. First identify the Brewster angle condition.

  • Finding taniB=3\tan i_B = \sqrt{3} correctly but choosing the wrong angle such as 3030^\circ. Since tan60=3\tan 60^\circ = \sqrt{3}, the correct angle is 6060^\circ.

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