Experiment 8

SFL1013 TECHNIQUES IN PHYSICS LABORATORY
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
FACULTY SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS
ID NAME SIGNATURE
Venosyah A/P
E20191023515
Kalithevan
EXPERIMENT Experiment 8: Refraction and Total

TITLE Internal Reflection of light
EXPERIMENT
17/9/2019
DATE
SUBMISSION
20/9/2019
DATE
Pre-Lab
1. What is the speed of light, c in vacuum?
The speed of light in vacuum, commonly denoted c, is a universal physical constant important in
many areas of physics. Its exact value is 299,792,458 meters per second.
2. Define index of refraction, n.
Refractive Index (Index of Refraction) is a value calculated from the ratio of the speed of light in
a vacuum to that in a second medium of greater density. The refractive index variable is most
commonly symbolized by the letter n or n' in descriptive text and mathematical equations.
3. What is total internal reflection and critical angle, 𝜽C?
The critical angle is the angle of incidence where the angle of refraction is 90°. The light must
travel from an optically denser medium to an optically less dense medium. If the angle of
incidence is bigger than this critical angle, the refracted ray will not emerge from the medium,
but will be reflected back into the medium. This is called total internal reflection. Total internal
reflection refers to the complete reflection of a ray of light within a given medium from the
surrounding surface. Here, the ray of light continues to be reflected within the medium (glass,
water etc.) without being refracted off. In order to get a good understanding of what total internal
reflection really is, it is important to understand refraction.
4. Explain at least one application of total internal refection.
Fiber Optics: Endoscopes to Telephones
Fiber optics is one application of total internal reflection that is in wide use. In
communications, it is used to transmit telephone, internet, and cable TV signals. Fiber
optics employs the transmission of light down fibers of plastic or glass. Because the fibers are
thin, light entering one is likely to strike the inside surface at an angle greater than the critical
angle and, thus, be totally reflected. The index of refraction outside the fiber must be smaller
than inside, a condition that is easily satisfied by coating the outside of the fiber with a material
having an appropriate refractive index. In fact, most fibers have a varying refractive index to
allow more light to be guided along the fiber through total internal refraction. Rays are reflected
around corners as shown, making the fibers into tiny light pipes.
5. Derive Snell's law.
Using the Pythagorean Theorem, we know that (Equations 1)
Since light travels at a constant speed in each medium, we also know that (Equations 2)
The total time that the light ray requires to travel between its predetermined starting and ending points can
now be written as (Equation 3)
In calculus to minimize or maximize a quantity, we take its derivative and set it equal to zero. (Equations
4)
Simplifying the derivative gives us, (Equations 5)
From our original diagram of the two shaded right triangles, notice that (Equations 6)
giving us (Equation 7)
Now, our final step involves remembering the definition of the index of refraction, (Equation 8)
Substituting out terms in our equation gives us the familiar expression for Snell's Law. (Equations 9)
Abstract
Refraction and Total Internal Reflection of light
Venosyah.K
Faculty of Science and Mathematics,
University Pendidikan Sultan Idris,
35900 Tanjong Malim, Perak.
An experiment was performed to determine the refraction and total internal reflection of
light. The PHET Stimulation is used to determine the refraction and index of refraction of Air-
Glass system, speed of light and refraction index in different medium and critical angle in Glass-
Water system and Glass- Air system by altering the angle of incidence 𝜃𝔦 .the final result for
speed of light in different medium for air, water, glass, mystery material A and B is 1.00v, 0.75v,
0.67v,0.41v,and 0.71v respectively whereas the refraction index, n is 1.00, 1.33, 1.50, 2.44, 1.41
respectively. The critical angle for Glass- Air system is 41.8° whereas Glass- Water system is
61.2°.
INTRODUCTION
Material transparent to light are called optical materials. It has been found that the speed of light
varies in different optical material. When light travels between two different mediums, the
velocity, v and wavelength, λ of light changes. The index of refraction of a medium, n, is the
ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum, c, to its speed in the substance. Is defined as
𝑐
n=
𝑣
Where c = speed of light in vacuum and v is the speed of light in medium. As the result, the light
is bended at the interface of the different medium. The bending of light is referred to as
refraction. Its behavior is described by a mathematical relationship called Snell’s Law, named
after Dutch Astronomer Willebrand Shellie’s (1580-1626). Snell’s Law of refraction describes,
for any light that is travelling from one medium of index of refraction, n1 at angle of incidence,
θ1, to another medium of index of refraction, n2, the angle of refraction, θ2, the relation between
the parameters is given as.
N1 sin θ1 = N2 sin θ2
The objective is to Use ray diagrams to model the refraction of light from air into a material,
verify Snell’s Law and use it to identify the index of refraction, n of an unknown material and
determine the critical angle, θc for a light beam that travels from a denser medium to a less dense
medium
Apparatus
Computer and Internet Connection
Procedure
Refraction and Index OF Refraction
1. The entry medium was Set into air, nair = 1.0 and the exit medium was set into glass, nglass
= 1.50
2. The protractor was used to fixed the angle of the incidence, θi at 10°
3. The angle of refraction, θr and the angle reflection θR was measured
4. The measurement was repeated with θi
Speed of Light and Index of Refraction

1. The entry medium was set into air, nair = 1.0
2. The exit medium was varied from glass to the mystery Material B
3. The speed tool was used to measure the velocity of light, v in the medium from glass to
the mystery Material B
4. From the Table
Internal Reflection and Critical Angle, θc
1. The medium was set so the incoming ray radiates from glass to air
2. The light source was dragged anticlockwise away from the normal line until the refracted
ray disappears
3. From the glass, the angle just before the refracted ray disappeared was recorded
Data Analysis
Table 8.2: Index of refraction
𝜽𝒊 /° 𝜽𝒓 /° 𝜽𝑹 /° 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽𝒊 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽𝒓 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽𝑹

10 6.6 10.0 0.174 0.115 0.174
15 9.9 15.0 0.259 0.172 0.259
20 13.2 20.0 0.345 0.228 0.345
25 16.4 25.0 0.423 0.282 0.423
30 19.4 30.0 0.500 0.332 0.500
40 25.4 40.0 0.643 0.429 0.643
50 30.7 50.0 0.766 0.511 0.766
60 35.3 60.0 0.866 0.578 0.866
70 38.8 70.0 0.940 0.627 0.940
80 41.0 80.0 0.985 0.656 0.985
85 41.6 85.0 0.996 0.664 0.996
Table 8.3: Speed of Light in Different Medium
Speed of Light, v ( 𝒎𝒔−𝟏 ) Refraction Index, n

Air 1.00(𝟑. 𝟎𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎𝟖 ) 1.00
Water 0.75(𝟐. 𝟐𝟓 × 𝟏𝟎𝟖 ) 1.33
Glass 0.67(𝟐. 𝟎𝟏 × 𝟏𝟎𝟖 ) 1.50
Mystery A 0.41(𝟎. 𝟒𝟏 × 𝟏𝟎𝟖 ) 2.44
Mystery B 0.71(𝟎. 𝟕𝟏 × 𝟏𝟎𝟖 ) 1.41

Table 8.4 Critical Angle (Glass – Air) System

10 15.1 10.0 0.174 0.261 0.174
15 22.8 15.0 0.259 0.388 0.259
25 39.3 25.0 0.423 0.633 0.423
30 48.6 30.0 0.500 0.750 0.500
35 59.2 35.0 0.574 0.859 0.574
40 74.5 40.0 0.643 0.964 0.643
45 90.0 45.0 0.707 1.000 0.707
60 90.0 60.0 0.866 1.000 0.866
70 90.0 70.0 0.940 1.000 0.940
Table 8.5 Critical Angle (Glass – Water) System

10 11.2 10.0 0.174 0.194 0.000
15 16.9 15.0 0.259 0.291 0.000
25 28.3 25.0 0.423 0.474 0.423
30 34.3 30.0 0.500 0.564 0.500
35 40.1 35.0 0.574 0.644 0.574
40 46.3 40.0 0.643 0.723 0.643
45 52.7 45.0 0.707 0.795 0.707
60 77.1 60.0 0.866 0.975 0.866
70 90.0 70.0 0.940 1.000 0.940
Result Analysis
Table 8.2
1. Plot a graph of 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽𝒓 versus 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽𝒊 and 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽𝒊 versus 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽𝑹 .Then, draws a best- fit
line and find the slope.
0.656−0.115
Slope = 0.985−0.174
= 0.667
2. What does your slope represent?
The slope 0.667 shows the steepness of the line 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑟 versus 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑖 . This shows the trend
and relationship with the ray tracings. It also shows the gradient of the constant in this
graph 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑟 versus 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑖 and the same constant as the gradient of the graph speed of light
in air and speed of light in medium. The constant is the speed of light in two media.
3. Then, using your graph, verify that 𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒔 = 1.50
Table 8.3
1. Verify the refractive index of air, 𝒏𝒂𝒊𝒓 , water, 𝒏𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 and glass, 𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒔 .
2. Calculate the refractive index of mystery material A, 𝒏𝑨 and B, 𝒏𝑩 .
𝒄 𝒄
𝒏𝑨 =𝒗 𝒏𝑩 =𝒗
𝟏.𝟎𝟎 𝟏.𝟎𝟎
= =
𝟎.𝟒𝟏 𝟎.𝟕𝟏
= 2.44 =1.41
Table 8.2, 8.4 and 8.5
1. According to your data, is light refracted away from or toward the normal line as it
passes at an angle into a medium with a lower index of refraction?
According to my data, the light is refracted away from the normal line as it passes at an
angle into a medium with a lower index of refraction.
2. Will the same phenomenon occur if light is traveling from a less dense medium into
the denser medium? Explain your answer.
The edge of the wave fronts closest to the denser medium slow down first because a
denser medium provides more matter from which the light can scatter. Since the edge
away from the denser medium is still moving at the faster speed the wave front swings
around and becomes more parallel to the surface. This makes the direction of motion
more parallel to the normal.
3. Does glass have the same critical angle, for all different interface?
No, glass does not have the same critical angle for all different interface.
4. What is the critical angle of glass, 𝜽𝒄 in glass-air system and glass-water system?
𝑛
𝜃𝑐 glass-air system = sin−1 (𝑛2 )
1
1.00
=sin−1 (1.50)
=41.8°
𝑛
𝜃𝑐 glass-water system =sin−1 (𝑛2 )
1
1.33
=sin−1 (1.50)
=𝟔𝟐. 𝟓°
CONCLUSION
From this experiment, students could use ray diagrams to model the refraction light from
air into any material. We also able to verify the Snell’s Law and used it to identify the index
refraction, n of an unknown material. Beside we also able to determine the critical angle for a
light beam that travels from a denser medium to a less dense medium. we saw that the critical
angle is directly related to total internal reflection, which will only occur if light passes from a
medium of greater refractive index into one of a lesser refractive index if the angle of incidence
is greater than the critical angle (𝜃𝑖 > 𝜃𝑐). The critical angle for any boundary can be predicted
using Snell’s law. The phenomena of critical angles are apparent when observing the brilliance
and sparkle of a strategically-cut diamond. The critical angle for a diamond-air boundary is so
small that light is essentially “trapped” inside of the diamond for a brief moment, leading to total
internal reflection numerous times before the light is refracted out of the stone. Optics is a vital
branch of physics due to its endless applications. Anything that manipulates the direction or
capturing of light involves an optical principle, such as fiber optics, telescopes/microscopes,
lasers, cameras, etc.

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What is the speed of light in vacuum?

Define refractive index and explain how it is calculated.

SFL1013 TECHNIQUES IN PHYSICS LABORATORY

EXPERIMENT Experiment 8: Refraction and Total

Using the Pythagorean Theorem, we know that (Equations 1)

Simplifying the derivative gives us, (Equations 5)

Refraction and Total Internal Reflection of light

Speed of Light and Index of Refraction

𝜽𝒊 /° 𝜽𝒓 /° 𝜽𝑹 /° 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽𝒊 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽𝒓 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽𝑹

Table 8.3: Speed of Light in Different Medium

Speed of Light, v ( 𝒎𝒔−𝟏 ) Refraction Index, n

Water 0.75(𝟐. 𝟐𝟓 × 𝟏𝟎𝟖 ) 1.33

Glass 0.67(𝟐. 𝟎𝟏 × 𝟏𝟎𝟖 ) 1.50

Mystery A 0.41(𝟎. 𝟒𝟏 × 𝟏𝟎𝟖 ) 2.44

Mystery B 0.71(𝟎. 𝟕𝟏 × 𝟏𝟎𝟖 ) 1.41

𝜽𝒊 /° 𝜽𝒓 /° 𝜽𝑹 /° 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽𝒊 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽𝒓 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽𝑹

Table 8.5 Critical Angle (Glass – Water) System

𝜽𝒊 /° 𝜽𝒓 /° 𝜽𝑹 /° 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽𝒊 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽𝒓 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽𝑹

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