Final answer:
The critical angle for a beam of light passing from water into air is 48.8°. When light passes from a medium with a higher index of refraction (in this case, water) to a medium with a lower index of refraction (in this case, air), there are different possibilities: partially reflected and partially transmitted.
Step-by-step explanation:
The critical angle for a beam of light passing from water into air is 48.8°. When light passes from a medium with a higher index of refraction (in this case, water) to a medium with a lower index of refraction (in this case, air), there are different possibilities depending on the incident angle:
- If the incident angle is less than the critical angle, the light is partially reflected and partially transmitted.
- If the incident angle is equal to the critical angle, the light is transmitted along the boundary at a 90° angle. This is known as the boundary between the two media, and it experiences total internal reflection.
- If the incident angle is greater than the critical angle, the light is totally reflected, and none of it is transmitted into the second medium.
Based on the given critical angle of 48.8°, the correct answer is:
C) partially reflected and partially transmitted.