Question

If a light ray from air enters three different media in such a way that the refracted angles are ${45}^0$, ${30}^0$ and ${60}^0$ respectively, then which is the densest medium among the three?

In the figure, $n_1$ represents refractive index of air.

• A. Medium 1
• B. Medium 2
• C. Medium 3
• D. Air is the denser medium

Answer 1

The correct option is B

Medium 2

Since the angle of incidence is the same in all three media and we observe that the incident light ray has bent to the maximum in medium 2, we can conclude that medium 2 is the densest medium of all the three. If angle of incidence is kept constant, light ray bends more towards the normal for a relatively denser medium.