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A glass block has a critical angle of 42° - Leaving Cert Physics - Question d - 2015

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A glass block has a critical angle of 42°. Calculate the refractive index of the glass used in the block.

Worked Solution & Example Answer:A glass block has a critical angle of 42° - Leaving Cert Physics - Question d - 2015

Step 1

Calculate the refractive index using the critical angle

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Answer

To determine the refractive index (n) of the glass, we can use the formula relating the critical angle (c) to the refractive index:

n=1sin(c)n = \frac{1}{\sin(c)}

Given the critical angle, c = 42°, we first calculate the sine of the angle:

sin(42°)0.6691\sin(42°) \approx 0.6691

Now substituting the value into the equation:

n=10.66911.493n = \frac{1}{0.6691} \approx 1.493

Thus, the refractive index of the glass used in the block is approximately 1.493.

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