If the speed of Medium 1 equals the speed of Medium 2, there will be _____ refraction, and the transmission angle is ______ the incident angle.

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Multiple Choice

If the speed of Medium 1 equals the speed of Medium 2, there will be _____ refraction, and the transmission angle is ______ the incident angle.

Explanation:
When light moves from one medium to another, the change in speed determines whether the path bends, described by Snell’s law. If the speeds are the same in both media, the refractive indices are the same as well, so n1 sin(theta1) = n2 sin(theta2) reduces to sin(theta1) = sin(theta2). This means the transmission angle equals the incident angle, and the ray continues straight through without bending, i.e., no refraction. The other possibilities would require a change in direction, which would only happen if the speeds (and thus the refractive indices) were different.

When light moves from one medium to another, the change in speed determines whether the path bends, described by Snell’s law. If the speeds are the same in both media, the refractive indices are the same as well, so n1 sin(theta1) = n2 sin(theta2) reduces to sin(theta1) = sin(theta2). This means the transmission angle equals the incident angle, and the ray continues straight through without bending, i.e., no refraction. The other possibilities would require a change in direction, which would only happen if the speeds (and thus the refractive indices) were different.

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