A parallel beam of monochromatic light strikes a transparent prism. The cross section of the prism is a regular hexagon. The beam is parallel to the “top” and “bottom” faces of the prism, and points A and B in the diagram are the midpoints of the corresponding edges. After the refraction, two separate parallel beams of light emerge from the prism. What is the minimum index of refraction of the material of the prism that allows such an effect?
We received a large number of solutions from all over the world for our February Challenge, Softball in Space. We are pleased to recognize the following authors of correct solutions:
Hratch Barsoumian (Haigazian University, Beirut, Lebanon)
Philip Blanco (Grossmont College, El Cajon, CA)
Phil Cahill (Lockheed Martin Corporation, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom)
Jorge Manuel Caravaca Vidal, student (Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain)
Jaime Carrillo Moreno, student (Escuela Politécnica Superior,...