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Subject:
light rays
Category: Science > Physics Asked by: daisy001-ga List Price: $2.50 |
Posted:
07 Mar 2005 11:44 PST
Expires: 06 Apr 2005 12:44 PDT Question ID: 486247 |
Rays of light in water that shine up to the water -air boundary at angles of more than 48 degrees to the normal are totally reflected. No rays beyond 48 degrees refract outside. How about the other way around? Is there an angle at which light rays in air meeting the air- water boundary will reflect totally or will some light be refracted at all angles? |
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There is no answer at this time. |
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Subject:
Re: light rays
From: eaziway-ga on 09 Mar 2005 00:29 PST |
This is to do with the relative permiability of the two materials. There is no angle that will reflect all light. |
Subject:
Re: light rays
From: deeptimer-ga on 09 Mar 2005 15:12 PST |
The relevant physics is Snell's Law. See for example, http://buphy.bu.edu/py106/notes/Refraction.html Light rays originating in the air at a razor-thin glacing angle to the water's surface would follow the same path (in reverse of course) as those originating in the water and exiting at the same glancing angle to the surface (in your example, at 48 degrees). Thus all the external light, once it enters the water, shall be found with a cone 48 degrees to the normal to the surface. Light originating in the water, at an angle less steep than this, as you've noted, is totally reflected within the water. |
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