you are given an unknown liquid and asked to help identify it by finding its index of refraction. you shine a laser beam so that it first passes through glass and then through the liquid. the light crosses the interface from the glass with 1.60 refractive index to the liquid at an incident angle of 40 . the refracted angle of the light in the liquid is 55 . what is the refractive index of the liquid

Explanation:

The refractive index of liquid with respect to glass =  sin of Angle of incidence in glass / (sin of angle of refraction in liquid )

The refractive index of liquid with respect to glass = sin 40 / sin 55

refractive index of liquid / refractive index of glass = sin 40 / sin 55

refractive index of liquid / 1.60 = sin 40 / sin 55

refractive index of liquid = 1.6 x sin40 / sin 55

= 1.6 x .642 / .819

= 1.254 .