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AP Physics 2
13.3 Refraction
AdvancedMCQMathematical21.4k
Light ray traversing a glass plate of thickness d.
Light ray traversing a glass plate of thickness d.
A monochromatic light ray traveling in air \(n_{\text{air}} \approx 1\) strikes a flat, parallel-sided glass plate of thickness \(d\) and index of refraction \(n\) at a small angle of incidence \(\theta\) relative to the normal line. After passing through the plate and emerging back into air, the ray is parallel to its original incident direction but is shifted laterally by a perpendicular distance \(x\). Using the small-angle approximations \(\sin\theta \approx \tan\theta \approx \theta\) (where \(\theta\) is in radians) and \(\cos\theta \approx 1\), which of the following is a correct expression for the lateral displacement \(x\)?

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