Sketching Snell's Law (1 Viewer)

[the-derivative]

Hey guys, just a simple question...

When sketching sin i/sin r which value goes on the x-axis (horizontal). because some say sin i and some ppl say sin r.

Thanks guys.

 

[Aerath]

I think it's sin r that goes on the x axis. That's what my textbook says. :\

 

[undalay]

Normally the independent variable is on the x-axis.
So that would be sin i?

 

[dpospination]

sin r goes on the x axis, and sin i on the y axis, because u need the gradient, rise over run to give u sneels law, and sin i/sin r is snells law and gradient. if u were graphiing angle i and angle r, then angle i is independat vairable and would go on the x axis, but in this case it is not.

angle of refraction is dependant on angle of incidence, but i dont think sin i is dependant on sin r

 

[the-derivative]

Ok thanks guys! It's just confusing because some peopkle (and some books) say one thing, and some say another.

 

[Aerath]

Not quite sure what you managed to get from us - two of us said sin r, and another two said sin i. If anything, we just reinforced your doubt.

 

[tanna]

I always did sin r on the x-axis...and that's what our teacher told us

 

[x.Exhaust.x]

Not quite sure what you managed to get from us - two of us said sin r, and another two said sin i. If anything, we just reinforced your doubt.

Lol exactly what I was thinking .

 

[the-derivative]

i think the conclusion to draw is that it doesn't really matter....except if you were conducting an experiment, in which case independent variable always goes on x axis (according to what i've learnt)

Yeah, thats pretty much what i concluded to. Well what I got out of this was basically, that I could do either and prob wouldn't lose marks, which is basically my main concern.

 

[x.Exhaust.x]

So what exactly is it? The-derivative how did you graph it in the end? I have a physics half yearly exam tomorrow and I know it'll pop up somewhere .