Question 1
Monochromatic light enters the base of a plastic beaker that contains water with an oil layer floating on it. A student draws a diagram to show the directions the light takes as it passes through the layers. The student's diagram has one error at position A and one error at position B. The refractive indices of the materials are shown on the diagram.
The light is refracted at an angle of when it enters the plastic layer as shown.
Question (a)
Monochromatic light of wavelength in air is incident from above at a normal to the oil layer. Rays on the diagram are shown at near-normal incidence for clarity. Three positions X, Y and Z are shown on the diagram.
Question (i)
Identify, with a reason, a position at which there is a phase change of .
Question (ii)
Determine the minimum thickness of the oil layer for which light is not reflected. State your answer to an appropriate number of significant figures.