Activities to develop

Each student in the group has to answer the following questions

using academic references to support the research:

1. Determine 3 advantages and 2 disadvantages presented by natural

phenomena of refraction or reflection for the transmission of
electromagnetic waves.
The reflection and refraction of waves has a great importance in the
industry. Sometimes these phenomena are favorable, as in the
transmission of information through fiber optic, due to the reflection of
light in this medium. On other occasions they are harmful, as in the
transmission of information through copper.
In the construction of a lens the homogeneity of the material is
determinant, to avoid variations in the speed that can produce undesired
effects. The reflection must be minimized so that the incidence of reflected
rays is maximum and therefore, the most luminous lens.
In the case of radio waves, refraction is especially important in the
ionosphere, which produces a continuous series of refractions that allow
radio waves to travel from one point on the planet to another.

2. Explain what Snell's Law is for in the propagation of electromagnetic

waves.

Snell's law establishes the relationship between the refractive index and
the angle of entry and exit of each medium, with respect to the normal
one. The mathematical formula is as follows (García, 2010).
𝑛1 sin 𝜃1 = 𝑛2 sin 𝜃2
Therefore, knowing the refractive index of both media and the input angle
of the incident light beam, we can predict the direction of the ray in the
refracted medium.
 3. How is the total reflection of an electromagnetic wave achieved by
colliding with a different medium of propagation?

If the angle of incidence is greater than the limit angle (the limit angle is
that incident angle for which the refracted ray emerges tangent to the
separation surface between the two media), the sine of the refraction
angle is greater than unity. This indicates that waves that impinge with
an angle greater than the limit do not pass to the second medium, but
are reflected completely in the separation surface.

4. How is the total refraction of an electromagnetic wave achieved by

colliding with a different means of propagation?
As the angle of incidence 𝜃1 increases, the refraction angle increases until
it becomes equal to 𝜋⁄2. If the angle of incidence is increased again, the
incident wave is reflected in the first medium.
5. What do you mean by polarization of electromagnetic waves?
The polarization of the electromagnetic wave is defined as the trajectory
described by the vector component of the electric field in its propagation,
in order to maintain the orthogonality with respect to the vector
component of the magnetic field (ICTV02, s.f.).
Problem solution. Taken from “Cutnell, J. D., & Johnson, K. W.
(2009), John Wiley & Sons Ltd., New York & Paz, A. (2013)”

1. In the following figure a 3m long vertical pole extends from the

bottom of a swimming pool to a point 50cm above the water.
Sunlight is incident at angle 𝜃 = 60𝑜 . What is the length of the
shadow of the pole on the level bottom of the pool?
 Illustration 1. Problem 4. Taken from “Cutnell, J. D., & Johnson, K. W.
(2009), John Wiley & Sons Ltd., New York & Paz, A. (2013)”.

For the solution of the problem we use the following diagram

Illustration 2. Diagram for solving the problem

We find the value of 𝜃1 as 𝜃1 = 90° − 60° = 30°. With the value of 𝜃1 = 30°
and applying the Pythagorean theorem we find the value of 𝑥1 . Therefore
𝑥1 equal to 𝑥1 = 0.50 𝑚 × tan 30° = 0.29 𝑚.
With Snell's law of refraction and refractive indices of water and air 1.33
and 1.00 respectively we calculate 𝜃2 .
𝑛1 sin 𝜃1 = 𝑛2 sin 𝜃2
 1.00
𝜃2 = sin−1 ( sin 30°)
1.33
With the previous expression we obtain that 𝜃2 is equal to 22.08°. With the
value of 𝜃2 = 22.08° and applying the Pythagorean theorem we find the
value of 𝑥2 . Therefore 𝑥2 equal to 𝑥2 = 2.50 𝑚 × tan 22.08° = 1.01 𝑚.
Then 𝑥1 + 𝑥2 = 1.30 𝑚 is the length of the shadow of the pole on the level
bottom of the pool.

References
García, Á. F. (2010, December 5). Snell's law of refraction. Retrieved from
http://www.sc.ehu.es/sbweb/fisica/ondas/snell/snell.htm
ICTV02. (n.d.). Polarization of the electromagnetic wave. Retrieved from
http://ikastaroak.ulhi.net/edu/es/IEA/ICTV/ICTV02/es_IEA_ICTV02_Contenidos/w
ebsite_22_polarizacin_de_la_onda_electromagntica.html