Snell Law and Critical Angle 1.

The Snell�s law can be derived from which type of

incidence?
a) Incidence angle
b) Reflected angle
c) Refracted angle
d) Oblique incidence
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: The oblique incidence refers to the interface between dielectric
media. Consider a planar interface between two dielectric media. A plane wave is
incident at an angle from medium 1 and reflected from medium 2. The interface plane
defines the boundary between the media. This is the oblique medium.
2. The Snell�s law is given by
a) N1 sin ?i = N2 sin ?t
b) N2 sin ?i = N1 sin ?t
c) sin ?i = sin ?t
d) N1 cos ?i = N2 cos ?t
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: The Snell law states that in an oblique medium, the product of the
refractive index and sine of incidence angle in medium 1 is same as that of medium
2. Thus it is given by N1 sin ?i = N2 sin ?t.
3. Calculate the ratio of sine of incident angle to the sine of reflected angle
when the refractive indices of medium 1 and 2 are given as 2.33 and 1.66
respectively.
a) 0.71
b) 1.4
c) 2
d) 3.99
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: The Snell law is given by N1 sin ?i = N2 sin ?t. To get sin ?i/sin ?t,
the ratio is N2/N1. On substituting for N1 = 2.33 and N2 = 1.66, we get 1.66/2.33 =
0.71.
4. Find the ratio of the refractive index of medium 1 to that of medium 2, when the
incident and reflected angles are given by 300 and 450 respectively.
a) 0.5
b) 1
c) 2
d) 4
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: The Snell law is given by N1 sin ?i = N2 sin ?t. For getting N1/N2,
the ratio is sin ?t/sin ?i. On substituting for ?i = 30 and ?t = 45, we get sin
45/sin 30 = 2.
5. The refractive index of a medium with permittivity of 2 and permeability of 3 is
given by
a) 3.56
b) 2.45
c) 3.21
d) 1.78
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: The refractive index is given by n = c v(�e), where c is the speed of
light. Given that relative permittivity and relative permeability are 2 and 3
respectively. Thus n = 3 x 108 v(2 x 4p x 10-7 x 3 x 8.854 x 10-12) = 2.45. 6.
The critical angle is defined as the angle of incidence at which the total internal
reflection starts to occur. State True/False.
a) True
b) False
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: The critical angle is the minimum angle of incidence which is required
for the total internal reflection to occur. This is the angle that relates the
refractive index with the angle of reflection in an oblique incidence medium.
7. The critical angle for two media of refractive indices of medium 1 and 2 given
by 2 and 1 respectively is
a) 0
b) 30
c) 45
d) 60
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: The sine of the critical angle is the ratio of refractive index of
medium 2 to that in medium 1. Thus sin ?c = n2/n1. To get ?c, put n1 = 2 and n2 =
1. Thus we get ?c = sin-1(n2/n1) = sin-1(1/2) = 30 degree.
8. The critical angle for two media with permittivities of 16 and 9 respectively is
a) 48.59
b) 54.34
c) 60
d) 45
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: The sine of the critical angle is the ratio of refractive index of
medium 2 to that in medium 1. Thus sin ?c = n2/n1. Also n = ve, thus sin ?c =
ve2/ve1. Put e1 = 16 and e2 = 9, we get ?c = sin-1(3/4) = 48.59 degree.
9. The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection for perfect
reflection. State True/False.
a) True
b) False
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: For complete wave reflection, the angle of incidence should be same as
the angle of the reflection. In such cases, the reflection coefficient is unity and
the transmission coefficient is zero.
10. The angle of incidence of a wave of a wave with angle of transmission 45 degree
and the refractive indices of the two media given by 2 and 1.3 is
a) 41.68
b) 61.86
c) 12.23
d) 27.89
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: The Snell law is given by N1 sin ?i = N2 sin ?t. To get ?i, put N1 =
2, N2 = 1.3, ?t = 45 degree. Thus we get ?i = sin-1(1.3 sin 45)/2 = 41.68 degree.
11. The angle at which the wave must be transmitted in air media if the angle of
reflection is 45 degree is
a) 45
b) 30
c) 60
d) 90
View Answer

12. For a critical angle of 60 degree and the refractive index of the first medium
is 1.732, the refractive index of the second medium is
a) 1
b) 1.5
c) 2
d) 1.66
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: From the definition of Snell law, sin ?c = n2/n1. To get n2, put n1 =
1.732 and ?c = 60. Thus we get sin 60 = n2/1.732 and n2 = 1.5.