1.

Show that when a light beam is incident on a refractive surface at the polarising angle, the reflected and refracted beams are mutually perpendicular to each other.

Answer»

Solution :When a light beam travelling in air is INCIDENT on the surface of a refractive medium of refractive index at the polarising angle `i_(p)`, then according to Brewster.s law
`tani_(p)=(sini_(p))/(cosi_(p))=n`
If the refracted beam subtends an angle of refraction r in given medium, then according to Snell.s law
`(sini_(p))/(sinr)=n`
Comparing (i) and (ii), we have
`cosi_(p)=sinrimplies sin(90-i_(p))=sinrimplies90-i_(p)=r or r+i_(p)=90^(@)`
Then, angle between REFLECTED and refracted (TRANSMITTED) rays
`angle RAT=180^(@)-(r+i_(p))=180^(@)-90^(@)=90^(@)`
i.e., the reflected and refracted rays are MUTUALLY perpendicular.


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