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Light reflected at 55.6° from a window is completely polarized. What is the window’s index of refraction and the likely substance of which it is made?

a. Index of refraction: 1.33, Substance: Water
b. Index of refraction: 1.50, Substance: Crown glass
c. Index of refraction: 1.62, Substance: Diamond
d. Index of refraction: 1.75, Substance: Glass

User BerndK
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

The index of refraction for the window is calculated using Brewster's Law and the given polarization angle of 55.6°, resulting in an index of 1.50 which indicates that the window is likely made of crown glass.

Step-by-step explanation:

The phenomenon in which light reflected at a certain angle becomes completely polarized is known as Brewster's Law. According to Brewster's Law, the polarization occurs when the reflected and refracted rays are at a right angle to each other. The angle at which this happens is known as Brewster's angle (θ_b), and it can be used to calculate the index of refraction (n) of a material by using the formula n = tan(θ_b). Given that the light is polarized at a 55.6° angle when reflected from window glass, we can calculate the index of refraction by taking the tangent of 55.6°. Doing so, we get n ≈ 1.50. Among the given options, the substance that has an index of refraction of 1.50 is crown glass. Therefore, the window is likely made of crown glass.

User Jundymek
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