Measuring Sugar Content of a Liquid with a Laser Pointer

Abstract
Did you know that you can figure out how much sugar is in a liquid without ever tasting it? In this science
fair project, you will learn how to measure the concentration of sugar dissolved in a liquid by using a
laser pointer, a hollow prism, and some physics. You will discover how refraction, or the bending of light,
is the key to measuring the sugar content of a liquid with a laser pointer.

Objective

Determine the sugar concentration of a liquid you can see through, like water or fruit juice, by
measuring the solution's index of refraction.

Introduction

You may have seen an odd "bending" effect when you put a straw (or pencil) in a glass of water:
the straw appears to bend at the boundary between the air and the water. Compare the two
images in Figure 1 and see if you notice anything different between them.

These two images illustrate refraction by liquids. One glass contains plain water, and the other contains
sugar-water. Which glass has which liquid?

The straws in Figure 1, above, seem to bend because of a phenomenon called refraction, the
bending of a wave as it passes from one material into another. Waves travel at different speeds
through different mediums (such as air and water), and this speed difference makes the wave
refract when it passes from one material into another. As light waves travel from the water into
the air, the wave refracts, which makes the straws in Figure 1, above, look bent or broken.

Can you see the refraction is different in the two parts of Figure 1, above? This is because one
glass is filled with a denser solution than the other. The denser the medium, the slower the wave
travels through the medium. The speed at which a light wave travels through a medium is
quantified in the index of refraction, n, of that medium. It represents the ratio between the speed
of light in a vacuum and the speed of light in the medium of interest. For example, the index of
refraction of air is 1.00028, so light travels 1.00028 times faster in vacuum than it does in air.

The amount of refraction, or how much a light wave bends when it travels from one medium to
another, is related to the indices of refraction by a mathematical formula called Snell's Law. We
will use Figure 2, to understand Snell's Law. Figure 2 shows a ray of light (the red line in Figure
2) passing from air (white) to water (blue). Snell's Law uses the angle of a light ray entering a
material, called the angle of incidence, θ1, and the indices of refraction of the two materials (air
and water, in this case) to calculate how much the light ray will refract as it passes from one
material into the other. "How much the light refracts" is expressed mathematically as an angle
called the angle of refraction, θ2. Note that both the angle of incidence and the angle of
refraction are measured from a line perpendicular to the surface the light interacts with. This line
is called the surface normal, or simply, the normal

Illustration of Snell's Law. Snell's Law has four variables: the index of refraction of material 1, n1
(air, in this example), the index of refraction of material 2, n2 (water, in this example), the angle
of incidence, θ1, and the angle of refraction, θ2. If you know three of the four variables, you can
use Snell's Law to calculate the unknown variable.

In equation form, Snell's Law looks like this:

Equation 1:

Index of refraction of material 1 × sin(angle of incidence)

=
Index of refraction of material 2 × sin(angle of refraction)

n1 sin θ1= n2 sin θ2

 n1 = index of refraction of material 1 (no units, since it is a ratio)

 θ1 = angle of incidence (degrees or radians)
 n2 = index of refraction of material 2 (no units, since it is a ratio)
 θ2 = angle of refraction (degrees or radians)
Snell's Law tells us that the greater the difference between the indices of refraction of two
materials, the more the light bends. If dissolving sugar in water creates a solution with a higher
density than water alone, can you tell which glass in Figure 1, above, contains plain water and
which one has sugar water?

If a light wave would travel through a prism filled with water, can you draw how the wave
would be refracted?

In this science project, you will use the physics of refraction to measure the sugar content of a
clear liquid solution (e.g. apple juice or a clear soda drink) using a laser pointer and a hollow
prism. Figure 3, shows a picture of the basic setup of the experiment.

When there is no liquid in the prism, the laser will seem to shine straight through to a wall. See Figure 4.
Refraction does happen as the laser beam crosses the prism walls, but the prism walls are so thin that we
cannot see the refraction.

But, when the prism is filled with liquid, the laser is refracted twice
When the prism is filled with liquid, the laser beam entering the prism (red line) refracts, forming
the refracted ray (blue line). The laser beam refracts a second time as it exits the prism as the
emergent ray (orange line). As shown in the inset, the angle of minimum deviation, θmd is the
angle between the incident laser beam and the emergent ray exiting the prism. (Not to scale).

Using the setup shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5, you will make measurements that allow you to
calculate the angle of minimum deviation, θmd. The angle of minimum deviation is the smallest
possible angle between the incident ray (red line) and emergent ray (orange line), and it occurs
when the light passing through the prism (solid blue line) is parallel to the base of the prism, as
shown in Figure 5, above.

From θmd, you can calculate the index of refraction using Equation 2, the index of refraction
equation. You can derive Equation 2 by applying Snell's Law twice (once for each time the light
wave changes mediums), and then using algebra, trigonometric identities, and the fact that the
prism is equilateral.

Equation 2:

n = nair × sin[0.5(θmd + θp)] / sin(0.5θp)

 n = index of refraction of solution (no units, since it is a ratio)

 nair = index of refraction of air (no units, since it is a ratio)
 θmd = angle of minimum deviation (degrees or radians)
 θp = apex angle of prism (degrees or radians)
Equation 2, above, looks complicated at first, but it is actually not so bad. θ md is the angle of
minimum deviation, which you will measure (we will show you how in the Experimental
Procedure). θp is the apex angle of the prism, or the angle between the sides of the prism. Since
the prism is an equilateral triangle, the apex angle is 60°. In Equation 3, we have substituted 60°
for θp.

Equation 3:

n = nair × sin[0.5(θmd + 60°)] / sin(30°)

In Equation 4, we have added the numerical value of the index of refraction of air (n air =
1.00028). The sine of 30° is 0.5, and that is added in Equation 4.

Equation 4:

n = 1.00028 × sin[0.5(θmd + 60°)] / 0.5

Finally, we simplify the numerical terms to produce Equation 5, which is the one you will use.

Equation 5:

n = 2.00056 × sin[0.5(θmd + 60°)]

 n = index of refraction of solution (unitless, since it is a ratio)

 θmd = angle of minimum deviation (degrees)

To use equation 5, above, plug in your measured value for θ md, add 60°, and multiply the result
by 0.5. Then take the sine of the result, and multiply by 2.00056,

Materials and Equipment

 Sugar Measurement Laser Kit (1). Includes

o Hollow acrylic prism with stopper
o Small funnel
o Laser pointer
o Graduated cylinder, 100 mL
o Stir rod, plastic, 12 inches

You will also need to gather these items:

 Cardboard (a few small pieces; the flaps from a cardboard box work well)
 Masking tape
 Tape measure
 Paper, 8.5 inches by 11 inches
 Pencil
 Piece of string (~ 4 feet)
  Sugar
 Water
 Gram scale

Calculator with trigonometric functions (sine, arctangent)

Experimental Procedure
Laser Pointer Safety

Measuring the Index of Refraction of a Liquid

Note: Do this project in an area where you can put a table close to a flat wall or window, and
where taping paper to the wall or window is allowed.

1. Figure below, is a diagram of the setup you will use for measuring the index of refraction of a
liquid. This is what the setup would look like if you were looking down on it from above. (Note
that the diagram is not to scale.)

2. Lay the laser pointer on a table. The laser pointer should be set up so its beam (dotted red
line in Figure 6) is perpendicular to a nearby wall.
3. Lay a piece of paper in front of the laser pointer. Tape it securely to the table. The paper
will be used to mark where the laser beam enters and exits the prism.
 4. Place the prism on top of the paper, a few centimeters in front of the laser pointer. One of
the prism's triangular faces should be resting on the paper, as shown in Figure 7. Using a
pencil, trace around the prism's base. If you move the prism, always return it to this
location before rotating it, if needed, as explained in step 12.
5. Adjust the height of the laser pointer with pieces of cardboard until the laser's beam hits
about halfway up the side of the prism.

Photograph showing experimental setup for measuring the index of refraction of a liquid. The prism is a
few centimeters in front of the laser pointer. The laser pointer is pointing perpendicular to a nearby wall.

Adjust the height of the laser pointer with pieces of cardboard. The beam of the laser should hit the prism
about halfway up the prism's side.

6. Tape the cardboard to the table, and then tape the laser pointer to the cardboard. Make
sure that neither the cardboard nor the laser pointer can move. If the laser pointer's
position changes, your measurements will not be accurate.
a. Troubleshooting Tip: If you have two or more sheets of cardboard stacked
together, you may need to tape the pieces of cardboard together so that they do
not slip.
7. Tape a big piece of paper to the wall in front of the laser pointer. You will use this paper
to mark where the laser beam hits the wall.
8. To measure the angle of minimum deviation, θmd, which you will use to calculate the
index of refraction of the liquids that you test, you need to mark several points and
measure the distances between some of these points. Figure 9, is a more detailed view of
the prism and wall. It shows all the points you need to mark in order to measure the angle
of minimum deviation, θmd. The procedure below explains how to mark these points and
determine the angle of minimum deviation, θmd.

9. When the prism is empty (filled only with air), placing it in the laser's path should not
divert the beam. Turn the laser on, and mark the spot where the beam hits the paper taped
to the wall. Mark this as point b (point b in Figure 9).
a. Troubleshooting Tip: Before testing a new solution, turn on the laser and shine it
through an empty prism to make sure that the laser beam still hits point b. If the
laser beam no longer hits point b, your measurements will not be accurate. Adjust
the laser's position, if necessary, until the un-diverted beam hits point b.
10. With the prism empty, mark where the beam enters the prism on the paper the prism is
sitting on (point d in Figure 9). Label it point d.
11. With the prism still empty, mark where the laser beam exits the prism on the paper the
prism is sitting (point e in Figure 9). Label it point e.
 12. Turn off the laser. Fill the prism with plain water. If you moved the prism to fill it with
water, return it to the outline you made on the piece of paper. Turn the laser back on.
13. Rotate the prism so that the path of the refracted beam within the prism (solid blue line
from d to f in Figure 9) is parallel with the base of the prism, the side of the prism that has
no laser beam hitting it.
a. Troubleshooting Tip: A pinch of non-dairy creamer in the liquid can help you see
the beam within the prism, and should not have a significant effect on the index of
refraction of the liquid. Or, if you do not have non-dairy creamer, take a straight
edge and line it up with the laser beam's entrance and exit points (as seen when
looking at the prism from a top view). Rotate the prism until the straightedge
connecting those two points is parallel to the side of the prism that the laser beam
does not hit.
14. When the prism is rotated correctly (as described in step 13), mark the position where the
emerging beam hits the paper taped to the wall (point a in Figure 9). Label it point a.
15. On the paper on the table, mark the point where the beam emerges from the prism (point f
in Figure 9). Label it point f.
16. Now you can move the prism aside. Leave the papers taped in place.
17. Use a ruler to draw a line from point d to point e. This marks the path of the undiverted
beam.
18. Next, extend a line from point a (on the wall) through point f (on the table). To do this,
stretch a string from point a so that it passes over point f. Mark the point where the string
crosses the line between d and e. This is point c.
19. Measure the distance between points a and b, and record it in your lab notebook. This is
distance x (see Figure 9).
20. Measure the distance between points b and c, and record it in your lab notebook. This is
distance L (see Figure 9).
21. The distances you have measured define the angle of minimum deviation, θ md. The ratio
x/L is the tangent of the angle of minimum deviation, θ md. To calculate the angle, use your
calculator (or ecalc.com) to find the arctangent of x/L. (The arctangent of x/L means "the
angle whose tangent is equal to x/L.") Record the angle and its units (radians or degrees)
in your lab notebook.
22. Now that you have the angle of minimum deviation, you can use Equation 5, to calculate
the index of refraction, n, of the liquid in the prism.

Equation 5:

n = 2.00056 × sin[0.5(θmd + 60°)]

 n = index of refraction of solution (unit less, since it is a ratio)

 θmd = angle of minimum deviation (degrees)

23. Check that your setup is working correctly by measuring the index of refraction of plain
water using steps 9 through 22 of this procedure. You should get an index of refraction of
about 1.334.
Standard Sugar Solutions for Comparison

1. You will make three sugar water solutions, using the amounts of sugar and water shown
in Table 1. Use the gram scale to weigh out the appropriate amount of sugar.
a. Troubleshooting Tip: Using warm water will help the sugar dissolve more
quickly.

Desired concentration
Amount Sugar (g) Amount Water (mL)
(% mass/volume)
10 10 90
20 20 80
30 30 70

Table 1. Amounts of Sugar and Water for Standard Sugar Solutions

2. Mix each of the solutions in Table 1 in a graduated cylinder or liquid measuring cup with
metric units, using a stirring rod to dissolve the sugar. Once the solutions are made and
the sugar is completely dissolved, set aside the 20% and 30 % solution and fill the prism
with as much of the 10% sugar solution as possible.
3. Measure the index of refraction of the 10% sugar solution (following the steps in the
"Measuring the Index of Refraction of a Liquid" section of the procedure, above). Repeat
your measurements 4 more times for the 10% sugar solution, for a total of 5 replicates.
Average your results.
4. Empty the prism and rinse it with plain water. Then repeat step 3 using 20% and then
30% sugar solutions.
5. Now measure the index of refraction of a solution with unknown sugar concentration
(e.g., a clear soft drink or fruit juice). If you measure a carbonated beverage, make sure
that there are no bubbles in the path of the laser (gently dislodge them from the side of
the glass, if necessary).
6. With the index of refraction of the unknown solution, combined with the data you have
from your known sugar solutions, you should be able to estimate the sugar concentration
of the unknown solution.

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