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Refraction of Light

This document discusses the phenomenon of refraction of light. It begins by defining refraction as the bending of light when passing from one medium to another. It then provides examples of light refracting when going from air to glass or water to air. The document introduces key terms used to describe refraction like incident ray, normal, angle of incidence, and angle of refraction. Snell's law is presented, which relates the sine of the angles of incidence and refraction. Refractive index is defined as a measure of how much light slows down in a medium, and examples of refractive indices for various materials are given. The relationship between refractive index and speed of light is explained. Finally, examples of refraction in everyday phenomena

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jojo
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34 views

Refraction of Light

This document discusses the phenomenon of refraction of light. It begins by defining refraction as the bending of light when passing from one medium to another. It then provides examples of light refracting when going from air to glass or water to air. The document introduces key terms used to describe refraction like incident ray, normal, angle of incidence, and angle of refraction. Snell's law is presented, which relates the sine of the angles of incidence and refraction. Refractive index is defined as a measure of how much light slows down in a medium, and examples of refractive indices for various materials are given. The relationship between refractive index and speed of light is explained. Finally, examples of refraction in everyday phenomena

Uploaded by

jojo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Refraction of light

John says,
When hunting a fish under water, you
should aim your spear directly at the
fish.
Do you agree?
Yes, of course.
No, because the fish is actually located
somewhere else.
No, because size of objects changes when
they are put under water.

When sunlight falls on the water surface,


which of the following occur(s)?

It is reflected back to the air.


It refracts into the water.
It is absorbed by water and
turned into heat.

Introduction
Refraction is the bending of light
when the light passes from one medium
to another.
air
glass

Introduction
Useful words to describe refraction of light
incid
e

air
glass

angle of
incidence
nt ra
y

normal

angle of
refraction

Introduction

From a less dense to a denser medium


e.g. from air to glass
incid
e

nt ra
y
air
glass

normal

Light is bent towards the normal.

Introduction

From a denser to a less dense medium

e.g. from water to air

normal
water
air

refra
c

ted r
ay

Light is bent away from the normal.

Relation between angle of incidence


and angle of refraction
sin i

i = angle of incidence
r = angle of refraction
sin r

O
straight line passing through the origin
sin i is directly proportional to sin r.

Laws of refraction
The incident ray, the refracted ray,
and the normal all lie in the same plane.
incid
e

nt ra
y

air
glass
glass

normal

Laws of refraction
The ratio of the sin i to sin r is constant.
i.e. sin i = constant
sin r
This is called Snells law.
In general,

n1 sin 1 = n2 sin 2

Refractive index
A measure of the speed of light in a
particular substance.
Material
Refractive index
Glass

1.5 1.7

Water

1.33

Perspex

1.5

Diamond

2.42

Refractive index and speed of light


vacuum (or air)
3 108 m

distan
ce tha
t light
travel
in 1 s

water (n = 1.33)
2.25 108 m
glass (n = 1.5)
2 108 m
diamond (n = 2.42)
1.25 108 m

Refractive index and speed of


distan
light
ce tha
t

vacuum (or air)


3 108 m

water (n = 1.33)
2.25 108 m

travel

light
in 1 s

fastest

glass (n = 1.5)
2 108 m

Refractive index
Speed of light

diamond (slowest
n = 2.42)
1.25 108 m

Example
A ray of light passes from air into water.
Angle of incidence = 30
What is angle of refraction in water?
nwater = 1.33
30
air
water

Example
Applying Snells law, nw sin w= na sin a
1.33 sin w = 1 sin 30
sin w = sin 30/1.33 = 0.376
30
air
water

w = 22.1
22.1

Examples of refraction of light


a

Bent chopstick
The chopstick appears bent because
of refraction

Examples of refraction of light


b

Shallower in water

The depth that the object is


actually at is called the real
depth.
I
O

real
depth

Examples of refraction of light


c Flickering objects in hot air
The object you see through the
unstable hot air appears blurred and
flickering.

Q1 True or false: Light slows


True or false: Light slows down when it
enters a material from air.
(T/F)

Q2 True or false: If light travelled


True or false: If light travelled at the same
speed in all materials, refraction would still
occur when it passes from air to water.
(T/F)

Q3 True or false: If the speed of


True or false: If the speed of light in raindrop
is equal to that in air, there would be no
rainbows.
(T/F)

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