Lab Manual Exp 2

Experiment 2
Title : Reflection and refraction

Reflection and Refraction of Light (walter-fendt.de)
Objectives :
1. To verify the Law of Reflection
2. To determine the index of refraction of water and diamond using Snell’s Law
A. The Law of Reflection

Apparatus :
 Optics bench
 Ray table and Base
 Slit plate
 Ray optics mirror
 Light source
 Component holder
 Slit mask
Figure 1: Equipment set up
Introduction:
The shape and location of the image created by reflection from a mirror of any shape is
determined by just a few simple principles. One of these principles you already know: light
propagates in a straight line. You will have an opportunity to learn the remaining principles in
this experiment.
To determine the basic principles underlying any phenomenon, it is best to observe that
phenomenon in its simplest possible form. In this experiment, you will observe t h e reflection
of a single ray of light from a plane mirror. The principles you will discover be applied, in later
experiments, to more complicated examples of reflection.
Figure 2: Incident and Reflected Rays
Procedure :
1. Set up the equipment as shown in Figure 1.
2. Adjust the components so a single ray of light is aligned with the bold arrow labeled
"Normal" on the Ray Table Degree Scale.
3. Carefully align the flat reflecting surface of the mirror with the bold line labeled
"Component" on the Ray Table.
4. With the mirror properly aligned, the bold arrow on the Ray Table is normal (at right
angles) to the plane of the reflecting surface.
5. For each angle of incidence, record the angle of reflection.
Discussion:
i. The Law of Reflection has two parts. State both parts.
ii. You were asked to measure the angle of reflection when the ray was incident on the
curved side either side of convex or concave mirror. What advantages does this provide?
Conclusion :
Is the Law of Reflection has been verified by this experiment?

B. The Law of Refraction
Apparatus :
 Optics bench
 Ray table and Base
 Slit plate
 Cylindrical lens
 Light source
 Component holder
 Slit mask
Figure 3: Equipment set up
Introduction:
As you have seen, the direction of light propagation changes abruptly when light encounters a
reflective surface. The direction also changes abruptly when light passes across a boundary
between two different media of propagation, such as between air and acrylic, or between glass and
water. In this case, the change of direction is called Refraction.
As for reflection, a simple law characterizes the behavior of a refracted ray of light. According
to the Law of Refraction, also known as Snell's Law:
n1 sin 1 = n2 sin 2
The quantities n, and n2 are constants, called indices of refraction that depend on the two media
through which the light is passing. The angles 1 and 2 are the angles that the ray of light makes
with the normal to the boundary between the two media (see the inset in Figure 2). In this
experiment you will test the validity of this law, and also measure the index of refraction for
acrylic.
Procedure :
1. Set up the equipment as shown in Figure 3.
2. Adjust the components so a single ray of light passes directly through the center of the
Ray Table Degree Scale.
3. Align the flat surface of the Cylindrical Lens with the line labelled "Component".
4. With the lens properly aligned, the radial lines extending from the center of the Degree
Scale will all be perpendicular to the circular surface of the lens.
5. Without disturbing the alignment of the Lens, rotate the Ray Table and observe the
refracted ray for various angles of incidence.
6. By rotating the Ray Table, set the angle of incidence to each of the settings shown in
Table. For each angle of incidence, measure the angle of refraction.
7. Construct a graph with sin (angle of refraction) on the x-axis and sin (angle of incidence)
on the y-axis. Draw the best fit straight line for each of your data.
Discussions:
i. Based on the graph, determine the value of gradient for each material (water and
diamond).
ii. Calculate the percentage error of each material.
iii. What can you learn from the outcomes when light travels from one medium to another
with varying indexes of refraction? Discuss.
Conclusion:
The index of refraction of water is _____________ with _________ % error.
The index of refraction of diamond is _____________with _________ % error.
The greater the value of index of refraction, the light will be refracted ________________
normal line.
EXPERIMENT : 2
TITLE : Reflection and Refraction
Data;
Air →Water Air →Diamond
Angle of Angle of Angle of Angle of Angle of Angle of

Incidence Reflection Refraction Incidence Reflection Refraction
nair = __________ nair = __________
nwater
0° = __________ n0°
diamond = __________
10° 10°
20° 20°
30° 30°
40° 40°
50° 50°
60° 60°
70° 70°
80° 80°
90° 90°
Group Member :
Name UiTM Number
Verified by:
1.
2.
3.
4.
*** This datasheet must be submitted upon the submission the lab report.

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Experiment 2

Title : Reflection and refraction

A. The Law of Reflection

Figure 1: Equipment set up

5. For each angle of incidence, record the angle of reflection.

Is the Law of Reflection has been verified by this experiment?

Figure 3: Equipment set up

ii. Calculate the percentage error of each material.

TITLE : Reflection and Refraction

Air →Water Air →Diamond

Angle of Angle of Angle of Angle of Angle of Angle of

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