Exam-style question
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What is the relationship between the critical angle and the refractive index of a medium?.
- A.The critical angle increases with increasing refractive index.
- B.The critical angle decreases with increasing refractive index.
- C.The critical angle is independent of the refractive index.
- D.The critical angle is equal to the refractive index.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- The critical angle decreases with increasing refractive index.
Explanation
Why this works
As the refractive index of a medium increases, the critical angle decreases, meaning that light must strike the boundary at a smaller angle to achieve total internal reflection.
Common mistake
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