GRE Subject Test: Physics : Reflection and Refraction

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Subject Test: Physics

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Example Questions

Example Question #2 : Optics

A beam of light travels through a medium with index of refraction  until it reaches an interface with another material, with index of refraction . No light is transmitted into the second material. At what angle (measured from the plane of the interface between the two materials) does the beam hit the second material?

Possible Answers:

This situation is impossible.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Total internal reflection occurs at the angle:

However, this angle is measured from a line normal to the plane of the interface; the angle we want, therefore, is , which is .

All GRE Subject Test: Physics Resources

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