Using filters, a physicist has created a beam of light that consists of three wavelengths: 400 nm (violet), 500 nm (green), and 650 nm (red). He aims the beam so that it passes through air and then enters a block of crown glass. The beam enters the glass at an incidence angle of
1 = 43.9°.
The glass block has the following indices of refraction for the respective wavelengths in the light beam.
wavelength (nm) 400 500 650
index of refraction
n400 nm = 1.53
n500 nm = 1.52
n650 nm = 1.51
(a)
Upon entering the glass, are all three wavelengths refracted equally, or is one bent more than the others?
400 nm light is bent the most
500 nm light is bent the most
650 nm light is bent the most
all colors are refracted alike
(b)
What are the respective angles of refraction (in degrees) for the three wavelengths? (Enter each value to at least two decimal places.)
(i)
400 nm
°
(ii)
500 nm
°
(iii)
650 nm
°