Question

Light is incident along the normal on face AB of a glass prism of refractive index 1.52, as shown in Fig. E33.21. Find the largest value the angle$\mathbf{\infty }$can have without any light refracted out of the prism at face AC if (a) the prism is immersed in air and (b) the prism is immersed in water.

Short answer

1. The angle $\infty$, if the prism is immersed in air$48.86°$
2. The angle $\infty$, if the prism is immersed in water$28.72°$

Step-by-step solution

Snell’s law

Snell's law determines the degree of refraction as well as the relationship between the angle of incidence, angle of refraction, and refractive indices of two media.

Here;

Critical Angle-Beyond which light rays traveling through a thicker media to the surface of a less dense medium are no longer refracted but completely reflected

Total Internal Reflection-When the angle of incidence surpasses the critical angle, a light ray reaches an interface with less dense material and is completely reflected.

If the prism is immersed in air

(b) Medium 1 is glass

Medium 2 is air

Hence, the angle $\infty$if the prism is immersed in water$28.72°$