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AP Physics 2
13.3 Refraction
IntermediateMCQConceptual14.1k
A horizontal line represents the flat boundary between two media. The lower region is labeled glass with n_glass equal to 1.50. The upper region is labeled surrounding medium with n_medium. A vertical dashed line indicates the normal to the boundary. A single incoming light ray originates in the lower glass region and travels upward and to the right, striking the interface at an angle theta relative to the normal line. No reflected or refracted rays are shown. No other lines or labels appear.
Light ray in glass incident on a flat boundary with a surrounding medium.
A light ray inside a glass block (\(n_{\text{glass}} = 1.50\)) approaches a flat interface with an external medium. When the glass is surrounded by air (\(n_{\text{air}} = 1.00\)), the critical angle for total internal reflection is \(\theta_{\text{air}}\). When the glass block is instead submerged in water (\(n_{\text{water}} = 1.33\)), the critical angle for total internal reflection becomes \(\theta_{\text{water}}\). Which of the following correctly compares \(\theta_{\text{water}}\) to \(\theta_{\text{air}}\) and provides the correct physical justification?

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