A small coin is resting on the bottom of a beaker filled with liquid. A ray of light from the coin travels up to the surface of the liquid and moves along its surface. How fast is the light travelling in the liquid? [figure]
- 2.4 108 m/s
- 3.0 108 m/s
- 1.2 108 m/s
- 1.8 108 m/s
Answer
(4) 1.8 108 m/s
Solution
The ray moves along the surface, so the angle of incidence at the surface is the critical angle C.
From the figure, the horizontal distance is 3 cm and the depth is 4 cm, so the path length in the liquid is 32 + 42 = 5 cm and
C = 35
= 1 C = 53
∴ v = c = 3 108 35 = 1.8 108 m/s
Answer: (4)