Pre-DSE Series – Physics Basic Study Pack (Optics) Solution Guide (Second Edition)

2 Refraction of Light Quick Check 2.4 (p. 2-23)

1. (a) True
Quick Check
(b) False
Quick Check 2.1 (p. 2-4)
1. normal 2. (a) normal
angle of
incidence refracted ray
incident (partially) air
ray reflected ray
polystyrene
air
glass 40° 40° reflected
ray

refracted ray
(b) normal
angle of refraction

2. The incident ray, the refracted ray and the normal all lie air
in the same plane. polystyrene
The ratio between the sine of the angle of incidence and 50° reflected
the sine of the angle of refraction is a constant. 50° ray

Quick Check 2.2 (p. 2-8) 3. Light travels from an optically denser medium to an
optically less dense medium.
1. Light travels slower in an optically denser medium.
The angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle.
2. For two media A and B with respective refractive
indices nA and nB, if nA < nB, medium A is called the Quick Check 2.5 (p. 2-27)
optically less dense medium, while medium B is called
1.
the optically denser medium. 45°

3. normal

θair
n1 = 1
n2 = n 45°

θr
2.

sin θair
n=
sin θr
The angle of refraction θr is the smallest in medium X,
so medium X has the greatest refractive index.

4. B
When light travels from an optically denser medium to observer
an optically less dense medium, the refracted ray bends
away from the normal. 3. (a) True
(b) True
Quick Check 2.3 (p. 2-12)
1. (a) True 4. Mirages are caused by refraction and total internal
reflection of light.
(b) False
(c) True

2. A: violet
B: red
14
 2 Refraction of Light

Let’s Try
Tips
Example 2.1 (p. 2-4)
The medium between water and air does not affect the
By the laws of refraction, angle of refraction in air because (*) holds as long as
sin θ1 sin 50° total internal reflection does not occur. The difference in
=
sin 40° sin 35.2° the last digit in the answer comes from rounding errors.
sin 50°
sin θ1 = sin 40° ×
sin 35.2°
= 0.854 27
Example 2.6 (p. 2-14)
θ1 = 58.7°
The apparent depth will increase and get closer to the real
The angle of incidence is 58.7°.
depth.

Example 2.2 (p. 2-6)

Example 2.7 (p. 2-23)
sin 40°
(a) Refractive index n = nwater
sin 32° sin C =
nglass
= 1.2130
1.33
≈ 1.21 =
1.50
sin 25° C = 62.5°
(b) = 1.2130
sin θr The critical angle for the glass-water interface is 62.5°.
sin 25°
sin θr =
1.2130
θr = 20.4° Tips
The angle of refraction will be 20.4°. n2
sin C = , n  n1
n1 2
Example 2.3 (p. 2-7)
c Example 2.8 (p. 2-24)
(a) Speed of light in ice =
n
3.00 × 108 m s–1 (a) By Snell’s law,
=
1.31 nplastic sin θplastic = nwater sin θwater
= 2.29 × 108 m s–1 1.50 sin θplastic = 1.33 sin 70°
(b) Sapphire is optically denser than ice as light travels 1.33 sin 70°
slower in sapphire. sin θplastic =
1.50
θplastic = 56.4°
Example 2.4 (p. 2-10) The angle of refraction in the plastic sheet is 56.4°.
1
By Snell’s law, (b) sin C =
n
sin θw ng 1
= =
sin θg nw 1.50
1.62 C = 41.8°
New slope of the graph =
1.33
The critical angle for the plastic-air interface is 41.8°. It
= 1.22
is smaller than the angle of incidence at the plastic-air
interface, hence the ray of light will not enter air.
Example 2.5 (p. 2-11) (c) air

By Snell’s law, 56.4°

nwater sin x = nalcohol sin θalcohol = nair sin θair plastic
water
nwater sin x = nair sin (90° – y) … (*) 70°
1.33 sin 45.3°
sin (90° – y) =
1.00
90° – y = 71.0°
y = 19.0°

15
 Pre-DSE Series – Physics Basic Study Pack (Optics) Solution Guide (Second Edition)

Example 2.9 (p. 2-29) 7.By the laws of refraction,

It remains unchanged. sin θ1 sin 62°
(a) =
sin 34° sin 30°
(b) It increases.
sin 62°
sin θ1 = sin 34° ×
sin 30°
Example 2.10 (p. 2-30) θ1 = 80.9°
1.40 The angle of incidence is 80.9°.
(a) sin C =
1.48
C = 71.075° 8.By the laws of refraction,
≈ 71.1° sin θ2 sin 34°
=
φ should be greater than C, hence φ  71.1°. sin 45° sin 60°
(b) Suppose φ = 71.075°. sin 34°
sin θ2 = sin 45° ×
sin 60°
α = 180° – 90° – 71.075°
θ2 = 27.2°
= 18.925°
The angle of refraction will be 27.2°.
By Snell’s law,
1.00 sin θ = 1.48 sin 18.925°
9.By the laws of refraction,
θ = 28.7° (or 28.6°) sin θ2 sin 36°
The maximum value of θ is 28.7° (or 28.6°). =
sin 40° sin 55°
sin 36°
sin θ2 = sin 40° ×
sin 55°
θ2 = 27.5°
Exercise The angle of refraction is 27.5°.

Exercise 2.1 (p. 2-14)

10. (a) By Snell’s law,
Foundation Level sin 65°
refractive index n =
1. C sin 40°
= 1.41
2. C (b) By Snell’s law,
sin θair
ndiamond  nglass  nwater  nair = 1.41
sin 20°
c θair = 28.8°
vdiamond  vglass  vwater  vair a v =
n
The angle of refraction is 28.8°.

3. D
11. By Snell’s law,
(a)
When a ray of light travels from water to air, the
refracted ray bends away from the normal. A partially sin 50°
= 1.39
reflected ray can be observed at the same time as well sin θX
with the angle of reflection the same as the angle of sin 50°
sin θX =
incidence. 1.39
θX = 33.4°
The angle of refraction is 33.4°.
4. D
(b) normal
50° 50° partially
5. A reflected ray
air
The rod appears to be broken at the water surface and medium X
bending towards the water surface just like the bottom 33.4°
photo on p. 2-13.
refracted ray

sin θ1 sin 40°

6. (a) = = 0.785
sin θ2 sin 55°
(b) By the laws of refraction,
sin 22°
= 0.785
sin θ2
θ2 = 28.5°
16
 2 Refraction of Light

12. By Snell’s law, Pre-DSE Level

nX sin θX = nY sin θY B
17.
1.60 sin 50° = 1.40 sin θY Angle of refraction in vacuum = 90° – β
1.60 sin 50° sin θvacuum
sin θY = nX =
1.40 sin θX
θY = 61.1° sin (90° – β)
=
The angle of refraction is 61.1°. sin α

13. By Snell’s law, 18. C

nX sin θX = nY sin θY The ray of light bends towards the normal when it enters
1.58 sin (90° – 55°) = nY sin (90° – 46°) the glass block from air. Hence ray R best represents the
emergent ray into air.
1.58 sin 35°
nY =
sin 44°
= 1.30 air
glass
The refractive index of liquid Y is 1.30.
angle of
refraction
c
14. (a) Speed of light v in vegetable oil =
n
3.00 × 108 m s–1
=
1.47
P Q R S
= 2.04 × 108 m s–1
(b) 1  nalcohol  1.47
c 19. D
valcohol =
nalcohol The ray of light bends towards the normal when it
enters the glass prism from air. It bends away from the
2.04 × 108 m s–1  valcohol  c
normal when it emerges into air from glass. Hence ray Z
best represents the emergent ray.
15.By Snell’s law,
(a)
sin θ v
jelly = jelly
sin θair c
light ray
sin 20° 2.05 × 108 m s–1
=
sin θair 3.00 × 108 m s–1
air
3.00
sin θair = sin 20° × glass
2.05 Z
θair = 30.0°
The angle of refraction is 30.0°. A
20.
c (1) is correct.
(b) Refractive index of the jelly =
vjelly The ray bends towards the normal when it travels from
3.00 × 108 m s–1 X to Y, hence medium Y is optically denser than X.
=
2.05 × 108 m s–1 (2) is incorrect.
= 1.46
By Snell’s law,
nX sin (90° – θ) = nY sin (90° – φ) … (*)
16. Speed of light in the sugar solution
(a)
(3) is incorrect.
c
= Let r be the angle of refraction when the angle of
nsugar
incidence is φ.
3.00 × 108 m s–1
= By Snell’s law,
1.44
= 2.08 × 108 m s–1 nX sin φ = nY sin r
(b) (i) Sugar solution n
sin r = X sin φ
nY
(ii) Sugar solution sin (90° – φ)
= sin φ (by (*))
sin (90° – θ)
In general, r ≠ θ unless φ = θ.

17
 Pre-DSE Series – Physics Basic Study Pack (Optics) Solution Guide (Second Edition)

21. (a) (i) θa 15° 30° 45° 60° 75° 23.

sin θa 0.26 0.50 0.71 0.87 0.97 observer
chopstick
θg 10° 19° 27° 34° 38°
sin θg 0.17 0.33 0.45 0.56 0.62
(ii)
sin θa image
water
1

0.8

0.6 24. (a)

Duncan’s eye

0.4

0.2

sin θg
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6

0.94 – 0
(b) Slope of the graph =
0.6 – 0
glass
= 1.57 (accept 1.54 to 1.60) apparent
depth real
Its physical meaning is the refractive index of the depth
glass block. image

coin
22. (a) By Snell’s law,
(b) The apparent position of the coin becomes higher in the
nair sin θair = noil sin θoil presence of the glass block.
1.00 sin 40°
sin θoil =
1.45
θoil = 26.315° 25. (a) By Snell’s law,
≈ 26.3° nwater sin θwater = nair sin θair
1.00 sin 11°
The angle of refraction is 26.3°. sin θwater =
1.33
(b) Since the two normals at the two boundaries are θwater = 8.2484°
parallel to each other, the angle of incidence at the
≈ 8.25°
oil-water boundary is 26.315° too.
The angle of incidence in water is 8.25°.
By Snell’s law,
(b)
noil sin θoil = nwater sin θwater
1.45 sin 26.315° = 1.33 sin θwater
1.45 sin 26.315°
sin θwater =
1.33
θwater = 28.9° 11°
The angle of refraction is 28.9°.
(c) air x
40° water
air 79°
26.3° 8.2484°
apparent
depth
oil
26.3°
10 cm
water

28.9°
apparent position
of marble
marble
x

18
 2 Refraction of Light

x 3. A
= tan 8.2484°
10 cm When prisms are used as reflectors, there will be no
x = 1.4496 cm multiple reflections and hence no multiple images.
apparent depth An image formed by a periscope is virtual and of the
= tan 79°
x same size as the object. C and D are incorrect.
apparent depth = 1.4496 cm × tan 79°
An image formed by a periscope is reflected twice and
= 7.46 cm hence not laterally inverted. It is the same for both
periscopes using mirrors and prisms. Hence B is not an
advantage.
Examination Questions
B
26.
4. C
By Snell’s law,
nair sin θair = nice sin θice = nplastic sin θplastic
nair sin θair = nplastic sin θplastic
1.00 sin (90° – 20°) = nplastic sin (90° – 50°)
1.00 sin 70°
nplastic =
sin 40°
= 1.46
The refractive index of the plastic is 1.46.
5. A
The smaller the refractive index n, the greater the
D
27. critical angle.
(1) is incorrect.
Interface Critical angle
Red light travels faster than violet light in glass.
1
(2) is correct. Water-air C = sin–1 = 48.8°
1.33
(3) is correct.
1
When the beam of light incidents the prism normally, Perspex-air C = sin–1 = 41.8°
1.50
the angle of incidence is 0°. Even the refractive indices
of glass for light of different colours are different, the 1
Sapphire-air C = sin–1 = 34.4°
angle of refraction is 0° for all colours. As a result, the 1.77
beam does not spread into a colour spectrum in the 1
prism. Diamond-air C = sin–1 = 24.4°
2.42

1
6. sin C =
Exercise 2.2 (p. 2-31) n
1
Foundation Level =
1.36
1.(a) True C = 47.3°
(b) True The critical angle for an alcohol-air interface is 47.3°.
(c) True
Total internal reflection occurs only when light 1
7. (a) sin C =
travels from an optically denser medium to an n
optically less dense medium. 1

=
(d) False 1.33
C = 48.8°
Total internal reflection occurs only when the
angle of incidence is larger than a certain angle. The critical angle for a water-air interface is 48.8°.
n
(b) sin C = 2
n1
2. C 1.31
=
Only refraction of light is involved. 1.33
C = 80.1°
The critical angle for a water-ice interface is 80.1°.

19
 Pre-DSE Series – Physics Basic Study Pack (Optics) Solution Guide (Second Edition)

1 For the plastic-water interface,

8. (a) sin C =
n n
1 sin Cplastic-water = 2

= n1
1.46 1.33
C = 43.2° =
1.3902
The critical angle for a plastic-air interface is Cplastic-water = 73.1°
43.2°. The required critical angle is 73.1°.
n
(b) sin C = 2
n1
1.33 12. (a) Since the angle of refraction of the emergent ray
= is 90°, C is the critical angle for the glass-air
1.46
interface.
C = 65.6°
The critical angle for a plastic-water interface is
65.6°.
38° α
C
9.(a) The incident ray travels along the normal at the
point of incidence X. air
The angle of incidence is 0° and therefore the ray 52°
does not bend at X.
(b) Angle of incidence at the glass-air interface α = 180° – 90° – 38° ( sum of )
= 130° – 90° = 52°
= 40° C = 90° – α = 38°
1 The critical angle for the glass-air interface is 38°.
n =
sin C
1
= 1.56 (b) refractive index n =
sin C
The refractive index of the glass is 1.56. 1
=
sin 38°
10. (a) By Snell’s law, = 1.62
refractive index n of the lead glass
sin (90° – β) 13. (a) Since the angle of refraction of the emergent ray
= is 90°, C is the critical angle for the glass-water
sin (90° – α)
sin (90° – 28°) interface.
=
sin (90° – 60°)
= 1.7659 α
≈ 1.77 52° C
1
(b) sin C = glass
n
1
=
1.7659 water 38°
C = 34.5° (or 34.4°)
When the angle of incidence is smaller than C, i.e.
when α is larger than 90° – C or 55.5° (or 55.6°), a α = 180° – 90° – 52° ( sum of )
refracted ray can be observed. The smallest value
of α is 55.5° (or 55.6°). = 38°
C = 90° – α
11. Refractive index of the plastic block = 52°
1 The critical angle for the glass-water interface is
= 52°.
sin Cplastic–air
1 (b) By Snell’s law,
=
sin 46° nglass sin C = nwater sin θwater
= 1.3902 1.33 sin 90°
nglass =
sin 52°
= 1.69
The refractive index of the glass is 1.69.

20
 2 Refraction of Light

14. (a) optical fibre When a ray of light enters the glass block at A, it bends
towards the normal and travels towards a point between
B and O with an angle of incidence θ smaller than 50°
(the critical angle for the glass-air interface) and it
(b) If the refractive index of the fibre is small, the will emerge into air from the glass block at some point
critical angle for the fibre-air interface is relatively between B and O.
large. Total internal reflection is less likely to
occur at the fibre-air interface, so light is more 1
likely to leak into air. 19. (a) (i) sin C1 =
n
1
=
1.50
Pre-DSE Level
C1 = 41.8°
15. D The critical angle for a glass-air interface is
41.8°.
16. B n
(ii) sin C2 = 2
nY  nX n1
1.47
1 1 =
 1.50
sin CY sin CX
C2 = 78.5°
sin CY  sin CX
The critical angle for a glass-glycerol
CY  CX = θ
interface is 78.5°.
When a ray of light travels from medium Y to air with
(b) The refractive indices of glycerol and glass are
an angle of incidence θ (CY), total internal reflection
about the same, hence light rays pass through
occurs and no refracted ray can be observed.
glass pieces in glycerol without much refraction
or reflections. It becomes difficult to distinguish
17. C glass pieces from glycerol with our eyes.
For periscope A,
20. (a) (i) Angle of reflection = angle of incidence
= 40°
object
By Snell’s law,
nair sin θair = nglass sin θglass
Jessie’s eye
1.00 sin 40° = 1.50 sin θglass
sin 40°
sin θglass =
image 1.50
For periscope B, θglass = 25.4°
The angle of refraction is 25.4°.
(ii) normal
object reflected
40° 40° ray

Jessie’s eye air

glass
25.4°
image
refracted ray
From the ray diagrams, the images observed through
periscope A is inverted while that observed through (iii) The ray bends towards the normal when it
periscope B is not inverted. enters the slab of glass.
(b) When the angle of incidence increases, both the
18. D angles of reflection and refraction increase.
P (c) normal
A
B θ refracted
ray
74.6°
air
O glass
40°
40° 40°
reflected
ray

Q
21
 Pre-DSE Series – Physics Basic Study Pack (Optics) Solution Guide (Second Edition)

1 (c) Let x be the required horizontal distance.

(d) (i) sin C =
n
air x
1

= water
1.50 C C
C = 41.8° 4.00 m
C
The critical angle for the glass-air interface is
41.8°. Martin
fish

(ii) When the angle of incidence increases x

while it is smaller than the critical angle, the = tan C
4.00 m
brightness of the reflected ray increases while x = 4.00 m tan 48.753°
that of the refracted ray decreases. Once the
Required distance = 2x
angle of incidence is greater than the critical
angle, no refracted ray can be observed. The = 2 × 4.00 m tan 48.753°
incident light is completely reflected. = 9.12 m

0.3 m 23. (a)

21. (a) tan θ = Q
h
1
(b) (i) sin C = 60°
n
1 P θ

=
1.33 56°
C = 48.753°
≈ 48.8°
θ = 180° – 90° – 60° ( sum of )
The critical angle for the water-air interface
is 48.8°. = 30°
0.3 m sin θair
(ii) h = nglass =
tan 48.753° sin θglass
= 0.263 m sin 56°
=
The minimum depth is 0.263 m. sin 30°
= 1.6581
1
1 sin C =
22. (a) sin C = nglass
n
C = 37.1°
1

= The critical angle for the glass-air interface is
1.33
C = 48.753° 37.1°.
≈ 48.8° (b) Since the angle of incidence is larger than the
critical angle, total internal reflection occurs when
The critical angle for the water-air interface is
the light ray hits point Q.
48.8°.
n
(b) air (c) sin Cʹ = 2
diameter n1
water 1.48
C 4.00 m C =
1.6581
C C
Cʹ = 63.2°
The critical angle for the glass-oil interface is
Martin
63.2°. The light ray will enter the oil drop at point
radius Q as the angle of incidence is smaller than the
= tan C
4.00 m critical angle.
radius = 4.00 m tan 48.753°
= 4.5616 m n2
24. (a) sin C =
diameter = 2 × radius n1
1.40
= 9.12 m =
1.60
The diameter of the Snell’s window is 9.12 m. C = 61.045°
≈ 61.0°
The critical angle for the core-cladding interface is
61.0°.

22
 2 Refraction of Light

(b) Total internal reflection occurs at the core- 5. A

cladding interface when β  C, The view of the sky is being squeezed into a circular
i.e. α = 90° – β  90° – C. region due to refraction of light.
When α = 90° – 61.045° = 28.955°, air circular region

1.00 sin θ = 1.60 sin α water

θ = 50.8°
The maximum value of θ is 50.8°.
(c) The cladding layer Sam

• protects the core from damaging;

• keeps the critical angle constant throughout the 6. C
optical fibre, regardless of what the fibre travels
through;
7.By the laws of refraction,
• prevents light from leaking out of the optical
sin 30° sin θr
fibre. =  1M
sin 45° sin 30°
(Any two) sin 30°
sin θr = sin 30° ×
sin 45°
θr = 20.7°
Revision Exercise 2 (p. 2-39) The angle of refraction is 20.7°. 1A

Foundation Level c
8. n=
 1M
1. B v
c 3.00 × 108 m s–1
Speed of light in a medium = , where n is the refractive =
n 1.82 × 108 m s–1
index of the medium. The larger the refractive index n, = 1.65
the slower light travels in the medium. The refractive index of the liquid is 1.65. 1A

2. A By Snell’s law,
9.
A ray of light bends away from the normal when it sin θiodine viodine
=  1M
travels from an optically denser medium to an optically sin θoil voil
less dense medium. sin 20° viodine
=
sin 50° 2.01 × 108 m s–1
A sin 20°
3. viodine = × 2.01 × 108 m s–1
sin 50°
When a ray of light enters glass from air, it bends
= 8.97 × 107 m s–1
towards the normal. When a ray of light emerges into air
from glass, it bends away from the normal. Hence path The speed of light in the iodine crystal is
X is possible but path Z is not. A ray passing through the 8.97 × 107 m s–1.1A
centre of the glass slab enters and leaves the glass slab
along the normal. It should travel along a straight-line sin θair
10. (a) (i) Refractive index nglass =  1M
path. Hence path Y is possible. sin θr
sin 35°
=
4. B sin 20°
= 1.6770
When a ray of light travels from an optically less dense
medium to an optically denser medium, it refracts 1A ≈ 1.68
towards the normal. Hence (1) is correct. (ii) By Snell’s law,
When light travels from one medium to another, part of c
nglass =  1M
the light must be reflected. vglass
(3) is incorrect. Total internal reflection occurs only 3.00 × 108 m s–1
vglass =
when a ray of light travels from an optically denser 1.6770
medium to an optically less dense medium. = 1.79 × 108 m s–11A

23
 Pre-DSE Series – Physics Basic Study Pack (Optics) Solution Guide (Second Edition)

(b) By Snell’s law, 1

Refractive index of the glass =
nglass sin θr = nair sin θair1M slope
= 1.6 1A
1.6770 sin θr = 1.00 sin 60°
θr = 31.1°
15. Refractive index of the glass
(a)
The angle of refraction is 31.1°. 1A
sin θair
nglass =  1M
sin θr
11. (a) Angle of reflection = angle of incidence 1M sin 55°
=
= 30° sin 31°
Angle of reflection θr = 1.5905
= 180° – angle of reflection – 140° ≈ 1.59 1A
(adj. s on st. line) c
nglass =  1M
= 180° – 30° – 140° vglass
c
= 10° 1A vglass =
nglass
sin θair
(b) Refractive index of medium X =  1M 3.00 × 108 m s–1
sin θr =
1.5905
sin 30°
= = 1.89 × 108 m s–1
sin 10°
= 2.88 1A The speed of light in the glass is 1.89 × 108 m s–1.
1A
sin θair
12. (a) Angle of incidence = 90° – 44° (b) nglass =  1M
sin 37°
= 46° 1A sin θair = 1.5905 sin 37°
Angle of refraction = 90° – 66° θair = 73.2°
= 24° 1A The angle of incidence is 73.2°. 1A
sin θair 1
(b) Refractive index of ruby nruby = (c) sin C =  1M
sin θr nglass
sin 46° 1
=  1M =
sin 24° 1.5905
= 1.7686 C = 39.0°
≈ 1.77 1A The maximum angle of incidence that allows light
nruby =
c
 1M to travel from glass to air is 39.0°. 1A
vruby
3.00 × 108 m s–1 (a) If air near the sea surface is colder than air in the
vruby = 16.
1.7686 sky, it has a relatively large refractive index. When
= 1.70 × 108 m s–1 a light ray from Greenland travels to a warmer
The speed of light in ruby is 1.70 × 108 m s–1.1A layer of air higher in the sky, it bends away from
(c) Light travels slower in ruby than in air, 1A the normal as a result of refraction. 1A+1A
so ruby is optically denser than air. 1A The angle of incidence gets bigger and bigger.
When it is greater than the critical angle, total
internal reflection occurs. This allows Erik to see
(a) Light ray travels from zircon to air.
13. 1A the image of Greenland in the sky. 1A+1A
(b) Critical angle C for the zircon-air interface (b) image
= 30.7° warm air
reflection occurs
1
sin C =  1M cold air
nzircon horizon
1
nzircon =
sin 30.7° Greenland
= 1.96
The refractive index of zircon is 1.96. 1A [A light ray emerging from Greenland travels to
the left and goes up initially.] 1A
(a) The slope of the sin θg-sin θa graph is the
14. [It bends downwards after a certain point and
reciprocal of the refractive index of the glass. 1A reaches the ship.] 1A
0.5 [Location of the image located by extending the
(b) Slope of the graph =  1M
0.8 ray of light reaching the ship backwards] 1A
= 0.625
24
 2 Refraction of Light

17. (a) 20. P: (ii), Q: (i), R: (iii) 1A+1A+1A

Alice’s eye (i)
Q

[Light rays emerging from the goldfish are

refracted slightly away from the normal when they
leave the aquarium.] 1A (ii) P
[They enter Alice’s eye.] 1A
(b)
Alice’s eye
image

[Light rays entering Alice’s eye are traced back to (iii)

a point.] 1A
[The image of the goldfish locates at that point
and is labelled.] 1A R

18.

white light

red light

violet light 21. By Snell’s law,

[Both red and violet light rays are refracted towards the

nX sin 30° = nY sin θ ... (1)
normal when they enter the prism and refracted away 1M
from the normal when they leave the prism.] 1A
nX sin θ = nY sin 60° ... (2)
[The extent of bending for the red light ray is smaller (1)
gives
when compared with the violet light ray.] 1A (2)
sin 30° sin θ
=
sin θ sin 60°
Pre-DSE Level sin2 θ = sin 30° sin 60°
19. C = 0.433 01
θX θ = 41.2°1A
X

sin θair
θY Y 22. (a) nglass =
 1M
θY sin a
sin 40°
sin a =
Z 1.60
θZ
a = 23.687°
Let nX, nY and nZ be the refractive indices of media X, Y ≈ 23.7°1A
and Z respectively. x + 90° + 90° + 45° = (4 – 2) × 180°
By Snell’s law, ( sum of quadrilateral)
nX sin θX = nY sin θY = nZ sin θZ x = 135°1A
θY  θZ  θX
sin θY  sin θZ  sin θX
nY  nZ  nX

25
 Pre-DSE Series – Physics Basic Study Pack (Optics) Solution Guide (Second Edition)

(b) (b) P

45°
θ
40° α
α
a b i

x Q R

For the ray of light to be reflected completely

α = 180° – a – x ( sum of ) from side PR, the angle of incidence i should be
greater than C.1M
= 180° – 23.687° – 135°
= 21.313° i + α = 90°
sin b θ + 90° + α = 180° ( sum of )
= 1.60 1M
sin α θ = i
sin b = 1.60 sin 21.313°
θ should be greater than C
b = 35.6° (or 35.5°) 1A
The minimum angle θ is 36.0°. 1A

23. The beam of white light is refracted towards the

(a)
25. (a) P
normal1A
and dispersed into a colour spectrum when it
enters the block. 1A 50°
(b) By Snell’s law, θ
C
sin θ c
air =  1M
sin θr v Q R
1.99 × 108 m s–1
sin θr = sin 40° θ + 90° + 50° = 180° ( sum of )
3.00 × 108 m s–1
θr = 25.2° θ = 40°
The angle of refraction of red light in the block is The angle of incidence C at the glass-air interface
25.2°.1A PR is the critical angle as the refracted ray travels
(c) along PR.
air glass
C + θ = 90°
40° C = 50°
25.2°
The critical angle for the glass-air interface is 50°.
normal 1A
40° 25.2° 1
(b) Refractive index n =  1M
sin C
1
white light =
sin 50°
= 1.3054
[Refracted ray in the glass block] 1A ≈ 1.31 1A
[Refracted ray in air] 1A c
(c) n =  1M
[Angles of refraction and incidence in the glass v
block]1A c
v =
[Angles of refraction in air] 1A n
3.00 × 108 m s –1
=
1.3054
1
24. (a) sin C =
 1M = 2.30 × 108 m s–1 (or 2.29 × 108 m s–1)
nglass
The speed of light in the glass is 2.30 × 108 m s–1.
1
= 1A
1.70
C = 36.0°1A

26
 2 Refraction of Light

26. (a) (i) θa (c) Red light and violet light travel at different speeds
air in glass. 1A
water
θw 28. (a) (i)
sin θa 0 0.34 0.50 0.64 0.77 0.87
sin θp 0 0.21 0.31 0.41 0.45 0.54
3.00 m
2A
(ii)
sin θa
lamp 1
2.00 m

2.00 m 0.8
tan θw =
3.00 m
θw = 33.690° 0.6
≈ 33.7°
The angle of incidence is 33.7°. 1A 0.4
sin θa
(ii) = nwater1M
sin θw 0.2
sin θa = 1.33 sin 33.690°
θa = 47.540° sin θp
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6
≈ 47.5° (or 47.6°)
The angle of refraction is 47.5°. 1A [Correct labelling of the two axes] 1A+1A
(b) θa [Correct data points] 1A
[A line of best fit] 1A
0.96 – 0
(b) Slope of the graph in (a)(ii) =  1M
apparent θa 0.59 – 0
depth
= 1.63
image Refractive index of the glass = slope 1M
1.32 m
= 1.63 1A

29. incident ray x

135°
lamp i

2.00 m

apparent depth
tan (90° – θa) =  1M emergent ray
1.32 m 135°
apparent depth = 1.32 m × tan (90° – 47.540°) x = 360° – 90° – 90° – 135°
= 1.21 m 1A = 45°
i = 90° – x
27. (a) Colour of ray A: red 1A = 45°
Colour of ray B: violet 1A The critical angle C for the prism-air interface has to
sin θair be smaller than 45° so that light rays entering the prism
(b) =n
sin θr normally will be reflected in the opposite direction.
sin θair 1M
sin θr =
n
Minimum refractive index of the prism
sin 40°
sin θA =  1M 1
1.51 =  1M
θA = 25.194° sin Cmax
1
sin 40° =
sin θB =  1M sin 45°
1.53
= 1.41 1A
θB = 24.842°
θ = θA – θB = 0.35° (correct to the nearest 0.01°)
 1A
27
 Pre-DSE Series – Physics Basic Study Pack (Optics) Solution Guide (Second Edition)

30. (a) Refractive index n of the core

θI
c
θII =
I v
3.00 × 108 m s–1
=
2.0704 × 108 m s–1
θII II
= 1.4490
III
≈ 1.45 1A
θIII
(c) Critical angle C  70°
 Let nI, nII and nIII be the refractive indices of media n
sin C = 2
I, II and III respectively. n1
ncladding
By Snell’s law, sin 70° =  1M
1.4490
nI sin θI = nII sin θII = nIII sin θIII ncladding = 1.3616
θII  θI  θIII ≈ 1.36
sin θII  sin θI  sin θIII1M The maximum refractive index of the cladding
nIII  nI  nII1A layer is 1.36. 1A
Medium II is the most optically dense. (d) cladding
(b) nI sin θI = nII sin θII = nIII sin θIII core l 70°
1.60 sin 30° = 2.62 sin θII = 1.00 sin θIII
1.60 sin 30°
sin θII =  1M cladding
2.62 d
θII = 17.8° d
1.60 sin 30° = sin 70°
sin θIII =  1M l
1.00 d
θIII = 53.1° l=
sin 70°
The angles of refraction in media II and III are Total length of the path shown in Figure w
17.8°1A 1000 m
and 53.1° respectively. 1A = 1M
sin 70°
(c) As long as total internal reflection does not occur = 1064.2 m
at the two interfaces, 1M Time taken by the ray to travel through the fibre
nI sin θI = nIII sin θIII.1M 1064.2 m
=  1M
n sin θI 2.0704 × 108 m s–1
 θIII = sin–1 I , which is independent of the
nIII = 5.14 × 10–6 s or 5.14 μs1A
refractive index of medium II.1A (e) Any TWO of the following: 1A each
• making transmission cables for carrying
Any TWO of the following:
31. (a) 1A each information in the form of light over very long
The cladding layer distances;
• protects the core from damaging; • making endoscopes to examine internal organs
or inspect hard-to-reach places;
• keeps the critical angle constant throughout the
optical fibre, regardless of what the fibre travels • making optical-fibre lamps.
through; (accept other reasonable answers)
• prevents light from leaking out of the optical
fibre.
(b) Speed of light v in the core
distance travelled
=
time
1000 m
=  1M
4.83 × 10–6 s
= 2.0704 × 10 m s 8 –1

28
 2 Refraction of Light

sin θair 1
32. (a) (i) n=
 1M 34. (a) (i) sin C1 =  1M
sin θr nplastic
sin 30° 1
sin θr = =
1.50 1.44
θr = 19.471° C1 = 43.983°
≈ 19.5° ≈ 44.0°
The angle of refraction is 19.5°. 1A The critical angle for the plastic-air interface
(ii) 2 cm is 44.0°. 1A
θr
l nice
sin C2 =  1M
30° – θr nplastic
d 1.31
=
1.44
2 cm
= cos θr1M C2 = 65.467°
l
2 cm ≈ 65.5°
l =
cos 19.471° The critical angle for the plastic-ice interface
= 2.1213 cm is 65.5°. 1A
≈ 2.12 cm (ii) When a sheet of ice is formed on the plastic
The length of the path of the light ray in the layer, the angle of incidence may become
block is 2.12 cm. 1A smaller than the critical angle for the plastic-
ice interface, 1A
(b) Referring to the figure in (a)(ii),
some light will enter the ice layer 1A
d and not all light is reflected to the light
= sin (30° – θr)1M
l detector.1A
d = 2.1213 cm sin (30° – 19.471°)
(b) The angle of incidence θp at the plastic-ice or the
= 0.388 cm 1A plastic-air interface should be smaller than C21A
(c) (i) It would increase. 1A (so that the light beam will not be reflected
Thickness increases l increases completely from the plastic-ice interface) and
d increases larger than C11A
(so that the light beam will be reflected completely
(ii) It would increase. 1A from the plastic-air interface).
Refractive index increases
 deviation of the path from the dotted line θp
increases light beam
thickness
d increases

6 cm
sin θair
33. (a) n=  1M
sin θp light source
sin 45° 6 cm
sin θp = = tan θp
1.58 thickness
θp = 26.586° For C1  θp  C2,
≈ 26.6°1A tan 43.983°  tan θp  tan 65.467°1M
(b) 30 mm 0.965 12  tan θp  2.1910
θp The range of thickness of the plastic layer is
l
6 cm , 6 cm , i.e. (2.74 cm, 6.22 cm). 1A
45° – θp 2.1910 0.965 12
d
30 mm
= cos θp1M
l
30 mm
l =
cos θp
d
= sin (45° – θp)1M
l
d = l sin (45° – θp)
sin (45° – 26.586°)
= × 30 mm 1M
cos 26.586°
= 10.6 mm 1A
29
 Pre-DSE Series – Physics Basic Study Pack (Optics) Solution Guide (Second Edition)

Examination Questions (ii) Time taken

35. (a) By Snell’s law, 0.138 93 m 0.138 93 m
= +  1M
c vemerald
nair sin θa = nemerald sin θe1M 0.138 93 m 0.138 93 m
1.00 sin 36.9° = 1.56 sin θe = +
3.00 × 108 m s–1 1.9231 × 108 m s–1
θe = 22.637° = 1.186 × 10–9 s­ (or 1.187 × 10–9 s)
≈ 22.6°1A  (correct to 1 × 10–12 s)
(b) Speed of light in emerald 1A
c (f) According to the answers of (d)(iii) and (e)(ii),
=  1M light takes a shorter time to travel along the path of
nemerald
3.00 × 108 m s–1 the ray.1A
=
1.56
= 1.9231 × 108 m s–1
≈ 1.92 × 108 m s–11A
(c) (i) PO = 0.09 2 + 0.12 2 m (Pyth. theorem)
= 0.15 m 1A
2 2
(ii) OQ = 0.05 + 0.12 m (Pyth. theorem)
= 0.13 m 1A
(iii) PQ = 0.14 2 + 0.24 2 m (Pyth. theorem)
= 0.277 85 m
≈ 0.278 m 1A
PO
(d) (i) Time taken =  1M
c
0.15 m
=
3.00 × 108 m s–1
= 5 × 10–10 s 1A
(ii) Time taken
OQ
=  1M
vemerald
0.13 m
=
1.9231 × 108 m s–1
= 6.7599 × 10–10 s
≈ 6.76 × 10–10 s (or 6.77 × 10–10 s) 1A
(iii) Time taken
= 5 × 10–10 s + 6.76 × 10–10 s
= 1.176 × 10–9 s (or 1.177 × 10–9 s)
 (correct to 1 × 10–12 s)
1A
1
(e) (i) Length of path in air = PQ
2
1
= × 27.785 cm
2
= 13.893 cm
≈ 13.9 cm 1A
Length of path in emerald
= length of path in air
= 13.9 cm 1A

30