Reflection and Snell's Law of Refraction

When light bends as it passes through a substance it's called:

• Diffusion

• Reflection

• Refraction

• Diffraction

Answer explanation

When light bends as it passes through a substance, it is called refraction. Refraction occurs due to the change in speed of light as it moves from one medium to another, causing it to change direction.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-5

When light bends and bounces off a substance it's called:

• Diffusion

• Diffraction

• Reflection

• Refraction

Answer explanation

When light bends and bounces off a substance, it is called reflection. This process involves the light rays bouncing back from the surface of the material.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

Rays of light hit the smooth, glossy pages of a magazine. The rays of light reflect off at one angle, producing a glare. What kind of reflection is it?

• Diffuse Reflection

• Regular Reflection

• Critical Angle

• Refraction

Answer explanation

Regular Reflection occurs when light rays hit a smooth surface and reflect at one angle, producing a glare.

Rays of light hit the rough, textured pages of a book. The rays of light reflect off at multiple angles. What kind of reflection is it?

• Specular/Regular reflection

• Refraction

• Absorption

• Diffuse reflection

Answer explanation

The rough, textured pages of a book cause light rays to reflect off at multiple angles, indicating diffuse reflection.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

The angle of reflection is _____ to the angle of incidence.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

A ray of light is incident at an angle of 60 degrees upon the surface of a piece of crown glass. What is the angle of refraction? Crown Glass (n = 1.52)

• 34.7 degrees

• 71.1 degrees

• 52 degrees

• 39.5 degrees

Answer explanation

The angle of refraction can be calculated using Snell's Law: n1*sin(theta1) = n2*sin(theta2). Plugging in the values, we get sin(theta2) = (1/1.52)*sin(60). Therefore, theta2 = arcsin((1/1.52)*sin(60)) = 34.7 degrees.

Light is incident at an angle of 60 degrees on the surface of a diamond. Find the angle of refraction. Diamond (n = 2.42)

• 50.4 degrees

• 42.8 degrees

• 35.2 degrees

• 21 degrees

Answer explanation

The angle of refraction can be calculated using Snell's Law: n1*sin(theta1) = n2*sin(theta2). Plugging in the values, we get: 1*sin(60) = 2.42*sin(theta2). Solving for theta2 gives approximately 21 degrees.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-5

 A ray of light passes from water into crown glass at an angle of 23.2 degrees. Find the angle of refraction. Water (n = 1.33) Crown Glass (n = 1.52)

• 17.83 degrees

• 25.69 degrees

• 21.45 degrees

• 20.16 degrees

Answer explanation

The angle of refraction can be calculated using Snell's Law: n1*sin(theta1) = n2*sin(theta2). Plugging in the values, we get sin(theta2) = (1.33/1.52)*sin(23.2). Therefore, theta2 = arcsin((1.33/1.52)*sin(23.2)) = 20.16 degrees.

A ray of light moves from air into an unknown substance. The angle of incidence is 24.7 degrees. If the angle of refraction is 9.94 degrees, what is the unknown substance's index of refraction?

• 2.42

• 1.37

• 1.62

• 1.75

Answer explanation

The index of refraction can be calculated using Snell's Law: n = sin(angle of incidence) / sin(angle of refraction). Plugging in the values, n = sin(24.7) / sin(9.94) = 2.42.

Light goes from flint glass into ethanol. The angle of refraction in the ethanol is 25 degrees. What is the angle of incidence in the glass? Flint glass (n= 1.61) Ethanol (n = 1.36)

• 20.9 degrees

• 18.9 degrees

• 30.5 degrees

• 15.2 degrees

Answer explanation

The angle of incidence can be calculated using Snell's Law: n1*sin(theta1) = n2*sin(theta2). Therefore, angle of incidence = arcsin((1.36/1.61)*sin(25)) = 20.9 degrees.