Question

A straight line graph is obtained by plotting sine of angle of incidence versus sine of angle of refraction. The slope of this graph represents :

• A. Velocity of light
• B. Refractive index
• C. Gravitational
• D. None of these

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

Refractive index

The straight line graph between angle of incidence and angle of refraction shows that ${\theta }_1\propto {\theta }_2$,

or $sin{\theta }_1\propto sin{\theta }_2$

From this we can say $\frac{sin{\theta }_1}{sin{\theta }_2}=constant$

where ${\theta }_1=$ angle of incidence and ${\theta }_2=$ angle of refraction.

Now by Snell's law of refraction, we know that constant is nothing but refractive index of medium, hence the slope of graph would be refractive index.