Lab 9.

Reflection and Refraction

Goals
• To explore the reflection of a light ray from a shiny smooth surface.
• To observe and understand how a curved mirror focuses incoming parallel light rays to a
single point.
• To explore the behavior of a light ray as it passes from one transparent medium into another
transparent medium.
• To verify Snell’s Law of refraction for light rays passing from air to PMMA [a plastic also
known as Lucite, Plexiglass, or poly(methyl-methacrylate)] and from PMMA to air.
• To calculate the index of refraction for PMMA from the data.
• To observe the focusing of parallel rays of light by a semi-circular PMMA prism analogous
to a simple lens.

Introduction
The basic behavior of light reflecting off mirror surfaces or passing from one medium to another
is to be investigated. A “ray box” produces one or more thin beams of light that behave much like
the ideal rays used to describe reflection and refraction in the text. Tracing the paths of these rays
as they interact with a mirror or an interface shows the behavior of light in these situations.

Figure 9.1. Angles of Reflection & Refraction

By convention the angle of incidence is defined as the angle between the incident ray and the
surface normal—the direction perpendicular to the surface of the mirror or lens. When dealing
with mirrors, the angle of reflection is the angle between the reflected ray and the normal to the

79
CHAPTER 9. REFLECTION AND REFRACTION 80

surface of the mirror. When dealing with refraction, the angle of transmission is defined as the
angle between the transmitted ray and the surface normal at that point.
Caution: Avoid putting fingerprints on the surfaces of the optical elements. Handle them by
the edges.

Reflection from a plane mirror

By flipping or changing the plastic mask on the front of the ray box, single or multiple rays can
be obtained. To investigate the reflection of a single ray of light, adjust the box to give a single
ray of light. A piece of circular graph paper will be used to measure the angles of incidence and
reflection.
Align the plane mirror with the 0°-360° line on a piece of circular graph paper, and direct the ray
so that it strikes the mirror at the center of the circular graph paper. Without changing the position
of the mirror, measure and record the angles of incidence and reflection as the incident angle of
the ray is varied by 10° increments from 10° to 80°. You will have to move the ray box relative to
the paper by carefully moving one or the other or both. Make sure that the ray always strikes the
mirror at the center of the graph paper. Remember that incident and reflected angles are measured
by convention from a line perpendicular to the mirror surface.
Present your results in a table. From your data, can you propose a general relationship between
incident and reflected angles? How well is your generalization supported by the data?

Reflection from two perpendicular plane mirrors

Place two plane mirrors at right angles to each other in a L-shaped formation near one corner of a
piece of engineering paper. The back or non-reflective sides of the mirrors should face toward the
edges of the paper.
Using the same ray box configuration as above, place the ray box so that the single ray impinges
on the front of one of the mirrors near its middle at an incident angle of about 45°. You should
observe a reflected ray from this mirror combination. Use a ruler to draw on your paper the paths
of both the incident and reflected rays. Now vary the incident angle of the incoming ray, always
making sure that the ray’s path includes one reflection from each mirror surface, and again mark
the paths of the incident and reflected rays from the mirror combination.
From your observations what general rule might you suggest for the relationship between the
incoming and outgoing rays for this configuration? How well does your data support your gener-
alization?
Note that radar is a form of electromagnetic radiation, like light, and so exhibits the same properties
as light when it comes to reflection. Radar often works by sending out a beam from a point, and
then looking to see what, if anything, gets reflected back to that same point. An aircraft has many
parts that fit together so that the surfaces make angles with each other. What angles should be
avoided when designing “stealthy” aircraft, that is, those hard to “see” with radar?
CHAPTER 9. REFLECTION AND REFRACTION 81

Focal length of a concave cylindrical mirror

To determine the focal length of a curved mirror, it is useful to adjust the rear box so that it gives
several parallel rays. Adjust the ray box to give five rays, and place a piece of engineering paper
in front of the ray box. Place the reflective surface of the mirror toward the ray box with the center
of the mirror surface perpendicular to the middle one of the five rays. Outline the position of the
mirror on the paper. Then trace the path of each incident ray and its reflected ray.
The focal length of a mirror is defined to be the distance from the center of the mirror to the point
where parallel incident rays intersect after reflecting from the surface. Determine the focal length
for this concave mirror from your ray drawing. If all the rays don’t quite meet at the same point,
this is called “aberration.” Does your mirror exhibit aberration? Do each of the five rays obey the
simple rule of reflection you stated at the conclusion of part 1 from the mirror surface? Discuss
and explain in each case.

Refraction at the surface of a semicircular lens

When a ray of light enters a transparent material at any angle except 90°, the ray bends at the
interface. To study the bending process, adjust the ray box so that it produces a single ray of light.
Use the circular graph paper to measure the angles of the incoming incident ray and the outgoing
refracted ray. To do this, orient the flat face of the semicircular PMMA lens on the circular graph
paper so that it lies along the 0°-360° line. Then position the ray box so that the ray strikes the flat
face of the lens at right angles. The point of intersection should lie at the center of the graph paper,
so you can measure its angle.
Trace the path of the incoming ray from the ray box and the outgoing ray emanating from the
curved side of the lens. Note that when the ray is perpendicular to the interface from air to lens or
from lens to air, the ray does not deviate from its original direction. In this case, the incident and
refracted angles are both zero. Now vary the angle of incidence from 10° to 80° in 10° increments.
In each case trace the incoming and outgoing rays. It is imperative that the incoming ray strikes the
PMMA at the center of the straight side of the semicircle each time. After refraction, rays striking
the center of the straight edge of the semicircle will pass along a radius of the semicircle and will
always strike the curved edge of the lens at right angles. Since the incident angle departing the
PMMA lens is 0°, no additional refraction takes place. Care here will ensure the validity of your
data.
To determine the relationship between the incident angle and the refracted angle for the air-PMMA
interface. Make a graph of the incident angle on the vertical axis versus the refracted angle on the
horizontal axis. Based on your graph, can you propose a simple relationship between the two
angles?
Historically the relationship between the incident and refracted angles was not fully understood
until the wave theory of light was proposed. It is now well understood and experimentally verified
that light travels more slowly through materials than through empty space. Air is mostly empty
space, so the slowing down of light in air is very small and can be ignored in many cases. The
index of refraction of a material is defined as follows:
CHAPTER 9. REFLECTION AND REFRACTION 82

speed of light in vacuum, c

index of refraction, n = (9.1)
speed of light in material, v

Consequently, the index of refraction for air is essentially 1.00, while the index of refraction of
PMMA is greater than one. It has been predicted and verified by careful experiments that the
incident angle, θi is related to the refracted angle, θr , by:

ni sin θi = nr sin θr (Snell’s Law) (9.2)

where ni is the index of refraction of the material for the incident ray and nr is the index of refraction
of the material for the refracted ray. Now use Snell’s Law to determine the index of refraction of
the PMMA. A graph is a good way to do this.
The behavior of the light traveling from air into PMMA is characterized by Snell’s Law, but is
the behavior of light traveling from PMMA into air the same? To test this, put the ray box on the
opposite side of the PMMA semicircle. The incoming ray should enter the PMMA through the
curved side and pass along a radial line to the center (Important!) of the straight side. Here the
ray leaves the PMMA and passes into the air. Again trace rays and measure incident (now in the
PMMA) and refracted (now in the air) angles as before. Do you see any differences? For fairly
large incident angles, what happens to the refracted ray? The effect that you observe is utilized
in optical fiber transmission lines to keep the light from “leaking” out of the fiber. Determine the
index of refraction of the PMMA from this data by plotting the angle of refraction versus the angle
of incidence. Does the index of refraction agree with the value obtained when the ray was incident
on the flat side of the lens?

Determining the focal length of a lens

To determine the focal length of the PMMA lens, adjust the ray box to give five rays once again.
Place the lens on a piece of engineering paper and orient the ray box so that the middle rays
strike the center of one side of the lens at right angles. Trace the incoming and outgoing rays and
determine the focal length of the lens. By convention, the focal length is measured from the center
of the lens at its thickest point.
Rotate the lens by 180°. Does this change the focal length? Try rotating the lens, say, 20-30°.
Does this change the focal length? Is the focal point as well defined, that is do the rays intersect as
closely to a single point? Discuss and explain in each case. Use diagrams liberally.
Block two of the incoming rays on one side of the lens. Does blocking two rays change how
the remaining rays focus? If you were given just half a lens, would it focus light properly? Ex-
plain.

Summary
Summarize your results and make any final conclusions.
CHAPTER 9. REFLECTION AND REFRACTION 83

No Effort Progressing Expectation Scientific

No deliberately identified An attempt is made to A statement is made as a The hypothesis is clearly
SL.A.b hypothesis is present in state a hypothesis, but no hypothesis, it contains a stated and the direct link
the first half page or so of clearly defined dependent and to the experiment at hand
Is able to notes dependent and independent variable is apparent to any
identify the independent variable, or along with a statement of reasonably informed
hypothesis for lacking a statement of relationship between the reader.
the experiment relationship between the two variables. This
proposed two variables statement appears to be
testable, but there are
Labs: 4-6, 9
some minor omissions or
vague details.

No deliberately identified A statement about the A statement about the A statement about the
SL.A.c attempt to use hypothesis validity is hypothesis validity is hypothesis validity is
experimental results to made, but it is not made which is consistent made which is consistent
Is able to validate hypothesis is consistent with the data with the data analysis with the data analysis
determine present in the sections analysis completed in the completed in the and all assumptions are
hypothesis following data collection. experiment experiment. taken into account.
validity Assumptions which
Labs: 4-6, 9 informed the hypothesis
and assumptions not
validated during
experimentation are not
taken into account.

No attempt is made to An explanation for a An explanation is made A reasonable explanation

SL.B.b explain the patterns in pattern is vague, OR the which aligns with the is made for the pattern in
data explanation cannot be pattern observed in the the data. The explanation
Is able to verified through testing, data, but the link to is testable, and accounts
explain patterns OR the explanation physics principles is for any significant
in data with contradicts the actual flawed through reasoning deviations or poor fit.
physics pattern in the data. or failure to understand
principles the physics principles.
Labs: 1-3, 5, 7-9, 12

No attempt is made to An attempt is made to Relevant assumptions are Sufficient assumptions

CT.A.b identify any assumptions identify assumptions, but identified regarding the are correctly identified,
necessary for making the assumptions stated specific predictions, but and are noted to indicate
Is able to predictions are irrelevant to the are not properly significance to the
identify specific predicted values evaluated for significance prediction that is made.
assumptions or apply to the broader in making the prediction.
used to make hypothesis instead of the
predictions specific prediction
Labs: 4-6, 9

Multiple experimental Predictions made are too Predictions follow from A prediction is made for
CT.A.c trials lack predictions general and could be hypothesis, but are each trial set in the
specific to those taken to apply to more flawed because relevant experiment which
Is able to make individual trial runs. than one trial run. OR experimental follows from the
predictions for Predictions are made assumptions are not hypothesis but is
each trial without connection to the considered and/or hyper-specific to the
during hypothesis identified for prediction is incomplete individual trial runs. The
experiment the experiment. OR or somewhat inconsistent prediction accurately
Labs: 4-6, 9
Predictions are made in a with hypothesis or describes the expected
manner inconsistent with experiment. outcome of the
the hypothesis being experiment and
tested. OR Prediction is incorporates relevant
unrelated to the context assumptions.
of the experiment.
CHAPTER 9. REFLECTION AND REFRACTION 84

No Effort Progressing Expectation Scientific

No explicitly identified The description of the The description of the The physics concepts
CT.B.a attempt to describe the physics concepts physics concepts in play underlying the
physics concepts underlying the for the week is vague or experiment are clearly
Is able to involved in the experiment is confusing, incomplete, but can be stated.
describe experiment using or the physics concepts understood in the broader
physics student’s own words. described are not context of the lab.
concepts pertinent to the
underlying experiment for this week.
experiment
Labs: 1-3, 5, 7, 8-12

No attempt is made to The pattern described is The pattern has minor The patterns represent
QR.B search for a pattern, irrelevant or inconsistent errors or omissions. OR the relevant trend in the
graphs may be present with the data. Graphs are Terms labelled as data. When possible, the
Is able to but lack fit lines present, but fit lines are proportional lack clarity - trend is described in
identify a inappropriate for the data is the proportionality words. Graphs have
pattern in the presented. linear, quadratic, etc. appropriate fit lines with
data graphically Graphs shown have equations and discussion
and appropriate fit lines, but of any data significantly
mathematically no equations or analysis off fit.
of fit quality
Labs: 1-3, 5, 7-9, 12

"Some data required for "Data recorded contains Most of the data is All necessary data has
IL.A the lab is not present at errors such as labeling recorded, but not all of it. been recorded throughout
all, or cannot be found quantities incorrectly, For example the the lab and recorded
Is able to record easily due to poor mixing up initial and measurements are in a comprehensible way.
data and organization of notes. " final states, units are not recorded as numbers Initial and final states are
observations mentioned, etc. " without units. Or data is identified correctly. Units
from the not assigned an are indicated throughout
experiment
identifying variable for the recording of data. All
Labs: 1-12 ease of reference. quantities are identified
with standard variable
identification and
identifying subscripts
where needed.
CHAPTER 9. REFLECTION AND REFRACTION 85

90

120 60

150 30

180 0

210 330

240 300

270

Figure 9.2. Polar Graph Paper

Free Polar Graph Paper from http://incompetech.com/graphpaper/polar/

CHAPTER 9. REFLECTION AND REFRACTION 86

Figure 9.3. Cartesian Graph Paper "Engineering Paper"

CHAPTER 9. REFLECTION AND REFRACTION 87

Print this page. Tear in half. Each lab partner should submit their half along with the lab report and then retain until the end of semester when returned with evaluations indicated by TA.

Lab 9 Reflection and Refraction:

Name: Lab Partner:

EXIT TICKET:
 Quit any software you have been using.
 Straighten up your lab station. Put all equipment where it was at start of lab.
 Required Level of Effort.
 Complete the pre-lab assignment  Arrive on time
 Work well with your partner  Complete the lab or run out of time

SL.A.b CT.A.b CT.B.a

SL.A.c CT.A.c QR.B
SL.B.b IL.A

Lab 9 Reflection and Refraction:

Name: Lab Partner:

EXIT TICKET:
 Quit any software you have been using.
 Straighten up your lab station. Put all equipment where it was at start of lab.
 Required Level of Effort.
 Complete the pre-lab assignment  Arrive on time
 Work well with your partner  Complete the lab or run out of time

SL.A.b CT.A.b CT.B.a

SL.A.c CT.A.c QR.B
SL.B.b IL.A