Refraction of light

We see refraction of light everyday. You have an opportunity to learn how it happens and what affects it.

In order to understand, how the refraction of light happens, you'll have to learn about different angles and different environments. To learn that you are going to read carefully about refraction of light and answer 10 simple questions and later check your answers.

• Watch this video and understand what is angle of incidence and angle of reflection;
• Read this page and learn about refraction of light and index of refraction;
• Read this and find out when total internal reflection happens;
• Watch carefully and learn about Snell's Law;
• Study this graph and understand how light wavelenght affect index of refraction.

Test.

1. Which of the angles in the photo is refraction angle?

2. Is it possible that angle of incidence equals to 30 degrees, but angle of reflection equals to 40 degrees?

3. What is refraction of light?

4. In what cases does total internal reflection happen?

5. If the angle of incidence equals to 60 degrees and angle of refraction equals to 30 degrees, which index of refraction is bigger (n1 or n2)?

6. Sin of angle of incidence/ sin angle of refraction is equal to n1/n2 or n2/n1?

7. If angle of incidence equals 27 degrees, what equals to angle of reflection?

8. The longer the wavelenght of light, the bigger or smaller angle of refraction?

9. Is the index of refraction equal to speed of light in vacuum divided by the speed of light in environment, or is it equal to angle of incidence divided by angle of reflection?

10. Angle of incidence is 30 degrees, index of refraction in first environment (n1) equals to 1,33, what is the angle of refraction, if index of refraction in secon environment (n2) is 2,40?

Answers.

1. Angle r

2. No

3. The refraction of light when it passes from a fast medium to a slow medium bends the light ray toward the normal to the boundary between the two media.

4. Total internal reflection happens when the light is in the more dense medium and approaching the less dense medium and whenthe angle of incidence is greater than the so-called critical angle.

5. n2

6. n2/n1

7. 27 degrees

8. Bigger

9. Speed of light in vacuum divided by speed of light in environment

10. 16,09 degrees

Congratulations! You now have learned about refraction of light.

Author: Erina Akmene 12.a