Question

What happens to a light wave traveling through diamond that strikes a boundary with water at a 45 degree angle? (APEX)

a. it refracts in the water, toward the boundary

b. it reflects back into the diamond in the direction it was traveling from

c. it refracts in the water, away from the boundary

Answer;
d. it reflects back into the diamond with a 45 degree angle of reflection

Answer 1

d. it reflects back into the diamond with a 45 degree angle of reflection

Step-by-step explanation:

• Diamond is denser than water and therefore a phenomenon called total internal reflection will take place.
• Total internal reflection occurs when a ray of light is travelling from an optically denser medium to an optically less dense medium. In this case the ray is travelling from diamond which is optically denser than water and therefore total internal reflection will occur.
• Therefore; the ray will be reflected back into the diamond with a 45 degree angle of reflection according to the laws of reflection.