28. A point source of light is submerged 2.2 m below the surface of a lake and emits rays in all directions. On the surface of the lake, directly above the source, the area illuminated is a circle. What is the maximum radius that this circle could have?

The maximum radius is determined by the angle of incidence which is equal to the critical angle.  Any angle larger than that the light is totally internally reflected.  So we can figure out that angle from Snell’s law where the refracted angle is 90°, and then use the tangent function.

 

So R

We find  by

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please send any comments or questions about this page to ddonovan@nmu.edu

This page last updated on July 1, 2018