Lab 4

Ray Optics
PHYS 1008 Winter 2025
Lab 4: Ray Optics PHYS 1008 Winter 2025

Overview
Lens Combination
Focal Length

Snell’s Law
Lab 3: Properties of Light PHYS 1008 Winter 2025

Refraction
When light is incident onto a transparent flat surface, part of the beam
is reflected, and part of the beam goes through into the second
material (i.e. is refracted)

Surface normal
The beam changes direction when
it enters the second material.
𝜃 1 𝜃’1
𝑛1 Air
𝑛2 Glass
Index of refraction
=
how optically dense a material is
𝜃2
𝑐 𝑓𝜆0 𝜆0
𝑛= = =
𝑣 𝑓𝜆 𝜆
Lab 3: Properties of Light PHYS 1008 Winter 2025

Snell’s Law
Relationship between incident angle and refracted angle

𝒏𝟏 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽𝟏 = 𝒏𝟐 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽𝟐

Incident Refracted
Air
𝑛1 = 1 angle angle
Refractive
Refractive index of
index of material 2
Ice
𝑛2 material 1
Lab 3: Properties of Light PHYS 1008 Winter 2025

Total Internal Reflection

When 𝒏𝟏 ≫ 𝒏𝟐

There is a critical angle, 𝜃𝑐 , after which point there is NO refraction,

only reflection, so that the light cannot escape through the interface.

𝑛2 From Snell’s Law:

𝜃2 = 90° 𝑛2
sin 𝜃𝑐 =
𝑛1 𝑛1
𝜃𝑐
𝜃1

If light exits into air (𝑛2 = 1)

Source
𝟏
𝒏𝟏 =
𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽𝒄
Lab 3: Properties of Light PHYS 1008 Winter 2025

Dispersion Factor

When 𝒏𝟏 ≫ 𝒏𝟐

𝟏
Dispersed Light 𝒏𝒓 =
𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽𝒓

White light 𝚫𝒏 = 𝒏𝒃 − 𝒏𝒓
𝟏
𝒏𝒃 =
𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽𝒃
𝒏𝟏
Air
Dispersive Material 𝑛2 = 1
Lab 4: Ray Optics PHYS 1008 Winter 2025

Experiment Outline

Ray Box Setup

A. Index of Refraction

B. Dispersion and Critical Angle

C. Magnifying Glass
D. Object at Infinity
E. Object near the Lens
F. Compound Lenses
Lab 4: Ray Optics PHYS 1008 Winter 2025
http://www.thesciencefair.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/RayBoxCNC1114-50_M.jpg

Ray Box Setup

End used for Direct Light Source Experiments

End used for Experiments

on Refraction or
Reflection

Light Source
Collimating Lens
Lab 4: Ray Optics PHYS 1008 Winter 2025

Ray Box Setup

• Put the three slit plate in the end of the ray box
• Connect the lamp to the lab power supply (0-12 V), set the Control
knob to 100
– Be careful! The box will soon get hot. Don’t touch it, and leave it
to cool for several minutes before putting it away.
Adjust the collimating lens position until
you get three parallel beams out.
(Loosen the control knob on top, and
tighten it again after adjustment)

Must be parallel!

Light Source
Collimating Lens
Lab 4: Ray Optics PHYS 1008 Winter 2025

Outline
Ray Box Calibration
A. Index of Refraction
B. Dispersion and Critical Angle
C. Magnifying Glass
D. Object at Infinity
E. Object near the Lens
F. Compound Lenses
Lab 4: Ray Optics PHYS 1008 Winter 2025

Part A: Index of Refraction

• Put plano-convex lens on the protractor
• Record data in Logger Pro

Protractor
Incident Ray
Quadrant 1
Must go through centre of
protractor and lens! Lens

𝜃1 𝒏 =?
Normal 𝜽𝟐 Normal

Refracted Ray

Quadrant 2
Lab 4: Ray Optics PHYS 1008 Winter 2025

Outline
Ray Box Calibration
A. Index of Refraction
B. Dispersion and Critical Angle
C. Magnifying Glass
D. Object at Infinity
E. Object near the Lens
F. Compound Lenses
Lab 4: Ray Optics PHYS 1008 Winter 2025

Part B: Dispersion and Critical Angle

• Still using the same plano-convex lens
• Record critical angle for blue and for red light

Protractor
Incident Ray
Lens
𝒏𝟏
𝜽𝒄
Normal Normal

Air
𝒏𝟐
Lab 4: Ray Optics PHYS 1008 Winter 2025

Experiment Outline

Ray Box Setup

A. Index of Refraction

B. Dispersion and Critical Angle

C. Magnifying Glass
D. Object at Infinity
E. Object near the Lens
F. Compound Lenses
Lab 4: Ray Optics PHYS 1008 Winter 2025

Converging Lens
Lens Axis
Image formed
Focal Point by real rays

Image distance, 𝑞

• Brings light rays together

• Parallel incident rays converge on the focal point past the lens
• Image:
• Real (can be projected on screen)
• Inverted
Lab 4: Ray Optics PHYS 1008 Winter 2025

Hyperopia

Farsightedness
=
Object
can only see far away objects
Image

http://physics.gsu.edu
Lab 4: Ray Optics PHYS 1008 Winter 2025

Diverging Lens
Image formed Lens Axis
Focal Point
by virtual rays

Image distance, 𝑞
(negative)

• Spreads light rays out

• Parallel incident rays diverge, but can be traced back to the focal point in front of the lens
• Image:
• Virtual (cannot be projected on screen)
• Upright
Lab 4: Ray Optics PHYS 1008 Winter 2025

Myopia

Nearsightedness
=
Object can only see objects that are close
Image

http://physics.gsu.edu
Lab 4: Ray Optics PHYS 1008 Winter 2025

Thin Lens Equation

Object distance, 𝑝

Focal length, 𝑓

Image distance, 𝑞

𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
= +
𝒇 𝒑 𝒒
Lab 4: Ray Optics PHYS 1008 Winter 2025

𝑓 = 𝑞 when 𝑝 = ∞
Focal Point Focal Point
Light source Light source

Image distance, 𝑞 Image distance, 𝑞

Light source

Collimated light
= 1 1 1
Parallel light rays = +
= 𝑓 𝑝 𝑞
Object at infinity
Lab 4: Ray Optics PHYS 1008 Winter 2025

Outline
Ray Box Calibration
A. Index of Refraction
B. Dispersion and Critical Angle
C. Magnifying Glass
D. Object at Infinity
E. Object near the Lens
F. Compound Lenses
Lab 4: Ray Optics PHYS 1008 Winter 2025

Part C: Magnifying Glass

• Object at infinity = “very far away”
• At the window station:
– Mount the magnifying glass
– Get a good focus on a distant object on a piece of cardboard
– Measure the image distance (from lens to paper) to determine the focal
length, 𝑓.
– Estimate uncertainty

Cardboard
Object

Magnifying Glass 𝑓 ± 𝜎𝑓
Lab 4: Ray Optics PHYS 1008 Winter 2025

Outline
Ray Box Calibration
A. Index of Refraction
B. Dispersion and Critical Angle
C. Magnifying Glass
D. Object at Infinity
E. Object near the Lens
F. Compound Lenses
Lab 4: Ray Optics PHYS 1008 Winter 2025

Part D: Object at Infinity

• Use the parallel rays from the light box to simulate an

object at infinity

• Trace ray diagrams for: Label focal lengths and

– thin converging lens direction of beam travel.
– thick converging lens
– diverging lens

• Determine focal points (with uncertainties) for each lens

Lab 4: Ray Optics PHYS 1008 Winter 2025

Part D: Sample Ray Trace

Fig #, Caption
Lab 4: Ray Optics PHYS 1008 Winter 2025

Part D: Sample Ray Trace Your paper

Fig #, Caption

𝒇 ± 𝝈𝒇

Fig #, Caption

𝒇 ± 𝝈𝒇

Fig #, Caption

𝒇 ± 𝝈𝒇
Lab 4: Ray Optics PHYS 1008 Winter 2025

Outline
Ray Box Calibration
A. Index of Refraction
B. Dispersion and Critical Angle
C. Magnifying Glass
D. Object at Infinity
E. Object near the Lens
F. Compound Lenses
Lab 4: Ray Optics PHYS 1008 Winter 2025

Part E: Object near Lens

Use the three-slit filter on the other end of the ray box.
The filament in the light bulb = object at finite distance.

No longer parallel,
since object is not
at infinity.

Trace the ray diagram.

Lab 4: Ray Optics PHYS 1008 Winter 2025

Part E: Sample Ray Trace

Your paper
Don’t need to draw the ray box
Fig #, Caption

𝒒 ± 𝝈𝒒

Extend these rays to find 𝑝 ± 𝜎𝑝

Leave some space for Part F

Lab 4: Ray Optics PHYS 1008 Winter 2025

Outline
Ray Box Calibration
A. Index of Refraction
B. Dispersion and Critical Angle
C. Magnifying Glass
D. Object at Infinity
E. Object near the Lens
F. Compound Lenses
Lab 4: Ray Optics PHYS 1008 Winter 2025

Part F: Compound Lens

Use parallel rays from the light box
Virtual image of the diverging lens = object for the thick converging lens

Object Distance, 𝑝 Image Distance, 𝑞

Trace the ray diagram.

Lab 4: Ray Optics PHYS 1008 Winter 2025

Before You Leave:

A. Index of Refraction:
• Logger Pro page 1

B. Dispersion and Critical Angle:

• Logger Pro page 2 Upload:
• Logger Pro file (both pages filled)
C. Magnifying Glass: • Screenshots: Page 1 and Page 2
• Logger Pro page 2 • Photos/scans of ray traces

D. Ray Tracing with the Object at Infinity:

• 3 ray traces (thin converging, thick converging, diverging) Same page

E. Ray Tracing with the Object near the Lens:

• 1 ray trace
Same page
F. Compound Lenses:
• 1 ray trace
Lab 4: Ray Optics PHYS 1008 Winter 2025