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The angle of incidence of a light beam o...

The angle of incidence of a light beam onto a reflecting surface is continuously varied. The reflected ray is found to be completely polarized when the angle of incidence is `60^(@)`. What is the index of refraction of the reflecting material ?

A

`(sqrt3)/(2)`

B

`(2)/(sqrt3)`

C

`sqrt3`

D

`2`

Text Solution

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The correct Answer is:
To find the index of refraction of the reflecting material when the angle of incidence is 60 degrees and complete polarization occurs, we can use Brewster's Law. ### Step-by-Step Solution: 1. **Understanding Brewster's Angle**: Brewster's angle (θ_B) is the angle of incidence at which light with a particular polarization is perfectly transmitted through a transparent dielectric surface, with no reflection. At this angle, the reflected and refracted rays are perpendicular to each other. 2. **Using the Formula for Brewster's Angle**: The formula for Brewster's angle is given by: \[ \tan(\theta_B) = \frac{n_2}{n_1} \] where \( n_1 \) is the index of refraction of the first medium (air, in this case, which is approximately 1), and \( n_2 \) is the index of refraction of the second medium (the reflecting material). 3. **Identifying the Given Angle**: From the problem, we know that the angle of incidence (θ_B) is 60 degrees. 4. **Calculating the Index of Refraction**: Using the Brewster's angle formula: \[ \tan(60^\circ) = \sqrt{3} \] Therefore, we can set up the equation: \[ \sqrt{3} = \frac{n_2}{1} \] This simplifies to: \[ n_2 = \sqrt{3} \] 5. **Conclusion**: The index of refraction of the reflecting material is: \[ n_2 \approx 1.732 \] ### Final Answer: The index of refraction of the reflecting material is approximately **1.732**.

To find the index of refraction of the reflecting material when the angle of incidence is 60 degrees and complete polarization occurs, we can use Brewster's Law. ### Step-by-Step Solution: 1. **Understanding Brewster's Angle**: Brewster's angle (θ_B) is the angle of incidence at which light with a particular polarization is perfectly transmitted through a transparent dielectric surface, with no reflection. At this angle, the reflected and refracted rays are perpendicular to each other. 2. **Using the Formula for Brewster's Angle**: ...
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