Total Internal Reflection in Prism · CAP 1999 #A23
Physics · optics
Problem
A uniform, horizontal beam of light is incident upon a prism as shown. The prism is in the shape of a quarter-cylinder, of radius R = 5 cm, and has the index of refraction n = 1.5. A patch on the tabletop for a distance x from the cylinder is unilluminated. The value of x is,
[Figure: Diagram showing quarter-cylinder prism with radius R and distance x marked on table]
(a) 1.71 cm
(b) 2.24 cm
(c) 2.50 cm
(d) 5.00 cm