Final answer:
When light passes from one medium to another, it changes direction in a phenomenon called refraction. Using Snell's law and the given refractive index of glass, we can determine that the angle of refraction in the glass is approximately 36°.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a beam of light passes from one medium to another, such as from air to glass, it changes direction. This phenomenon is called refraction. The angle at which the light ray enters the new medium is known as the angle of incidence, and the angle at which it bends inside the medium is called the angle of refraction. The relationship between the angles of incidence and refraction is described by Snell's law.
In this case, Maurice directs a beam of light at an angle of 51° onto a sheet of glass. The refractive index of glass is 1.46. To find the angle of refraction, we can use Snell's law: n₁sin(θ₁) = n₂sin(θ₂), where n₁ and n₂ are the refractive indices of the two media, and θ₁ and θ₂ are the angles of incidence and refraction, respectively.
Applying this formula, we have 1.00(sin(51°)) = 1.46(sin(θ₂)). Solving for θ₂, we get a value of approximately 36°. Therefore, the angle of refraction in the glass is 36°.
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