An unpolarised light is incident at an interface of two dielectric media having refractive indices of 2 (incident medium) and 23 (refracted medium) respectively. To satisfy the condition that reflected and refracted rays are perpendicular to each other, the angle of incidence is _____.
A
45∘
B
30∘
C
10∘
D
60∘
Answer
Correct answer:D
Step-by-step solution
Standard Method
Given: Refractive index of incident medium is n1=2 and refractive index of refracted medium is n2=23.
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=n1n2
Substituting the given refractive indices,
taniB=223=3
Therefore,
iB=60∘
Hence, the angle of incidence is 60∘ and the correct option is D.
Step-wise Explanation
Given: The two dielectric media have refractive indices 2 and 23.
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=n1n2
Step 3: Substituting the given refractive indices.
taniB=223=3
Step 4: Determining the angle of incidence.
iB=60∘
Step 5: Final conclusion.
The angle of incidence is 60∘, corresponding to option D.
Common mistakes
Using taniB=n2n1 instead of taniB=n1n2 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 correctly but choosing the wrong angle such as 30∘. Since tan60∘=3, the correct angle is 60∘.
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