To find the angle of refraction when light passes from air into water, we can use Snell's Law, which is given by the formula:
\[ n_1 \sin(\theta_1) = n_2 \sin(\theta_2) \]
where:
- \( n_1 \) is the index of refraction of the first medium (air, approximately 1.00),
- \( \theta_1 \) is the angle of incidence,
- \( n_2 \) is the index of refraction of the second medium (water, given as 1.36),
- \( \theta_2 \) is the angle of refraction.
Given:
- \( n_1 = 1.00 \)
- \( \theta_1 = 60° \)
- \( n_2 = 1.36 \)
We can rearrange Snell's Law to solve for \( \theta_2 \):
\[ \sin(\theta_2) = \frac{n_1 \sin(\theta_1)}{n_2} \]
Now substituting the values:
\[ \sin(\theta_2) = \frac{1.00 \times \sin(60°)}{1.36} \]
Calculating \( \sin(60°) \):
\[ \sin(60°) = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \approx 0.866 \]
Now substituting this value into the formula:
\[ \sin(\theta_2) = \frac{1.00 \times 0.866}{1.36} \approx \frac{0.866}{1.36} \approx 0.6368 \]
Now we find \( \theta_2 \) by taking the inverse sine:
\[ \theta_2 = \sin^{-1}(0.6368) \]
Calculating \( \theta_2 \):
\[ \theta_2 \approx 39.5° \]
Therefore, the angle of refraction is approximately 39.5°.
The correct answer is 39.5°.