LESSON 2 – 3 When a ray of light crosses

the boundry between two different

Understanding mediums at a right angle or the
refraction of light incident ray parallel to normal, the
ray is not bent
but the speed of light is
What is meant by ‘ Refraction’ different.
The angles of incidence and
Refraction of light is a phenomenon refraction are zero.
where the direction and speed of light
are changed ( change in velocity)
when it crosses the boundry between
two materials of different optical
densities.

Three ways in which a ray can

travel through two mediums

1 When a ray of light travels

from optically less dense
medium to optically denser
medium , the ray is bent
towards the normal.
After entering the denser
medium the speed of light
Common terminology of refraction
decreases.
of light
between two medium of different
optical densities

Normal : A line at right

angles to the
boundry of the
surface of the medium.
2 When a ray of light travels
from optically denser Incident ray : A ray of light that
medium to optically less is directed
dense medium , the ray is onto to the boundry of
bent away from the normal. the surface of the
After entering the less dense medium
medium the speed of light
increases. Reflected ray : A ray that is
refracted when passing
through the different
medium.

Angle of : The angle between

the incident
incidence ray and the
normal

14
Angle of : The angle between
the refracted • A material with a higher
refraction ray and the refractive index has a
normal higher density.
• The value of refractive
index , n ≥ 1
• The refractive index has no
units.

The refrective index can be also

defined as ,

n = speed of light in
vacuum (air)
speed of light in
medium

0r

And
The law of refraction
n = Real
The first law : The ratio of the depth
sine of the angle Apparent
( Snell’s Law) of incidence to the sine h depth
of the angle of
refraction is constant. Or
The second law: The incident ray,
the normal and
the refracted ray all Example 1
lie in the
same plane The diagram shows a ray of light
passing from air to the block X.
Refractive index (n)

Refractive index,n is defined as,

n =
sin i
sin
where n = Refractive index
i = the angle in medium
less dense Calculate the refractive index of
r = the angle in denser the block X.
medium

15
Solution
Draw the ray light after it passes
through a point P and determine
the angle of refraction when the
ray light entering the air again.

Solution

Example 2

The diagram shows a ray of light Example 4

passing from a glass block to air.
[ Refractive index of glass = 1.54 ] The speed of light in vacuum is 3 x
108 ms-1 and the speed of light in
glass is 2 x 108 ms-1 . Determine
the refractive index of glass.

Solution

Determine the value of the angle

Example 5
θ .
The apparent depth of a fish is
Solution
0.50 m. Calculate the real depth of
the fish.
[ Refractive index of water = 1.33)

Solution
Example 3

The diagram shows a light ray

entering in a glass prism.
Example 6
[ Refractive index of glass = 1.51 ]
The figure shows an man
observing the base of a swimming
pool . The base of the pool appear
to be shallower.
The real depth of the swimming
pool is 2.0 m.
[ Refractive index of water =
1.33 ]

16
 (a) What is the apperent depth of
the
swimming pool?

The procudere of the experiment

which include the method of
controlling the manipulated
(b) In figure above ,draw a ray variable and the method of
diagram from point Z to show measuring the responding
how the point Z appear variable.
shallower. The glass block is placed on a white
paper.
Experiment to investigate the The outline of the sides of the glass
relationship between the angle of block are traced on the white paper
incidence and the angle of and labelled as ABCD.
refraction. The glass block is removed.
The normal ON is drawn.
Hypothesis: By using a protractor , the angle of
The angle of refraction increases as incidence is measured = i
the angle of incidence increases. The glass block is replaced again on
Aim of the experiment : its outline on the paper.
To investigate the relationship A ray of light from the ray box is
between the angle of incidence and directed along incidence line.
the angle of refraction. The ray emerging from the side CD is
Variables in the experiment: drawn as line PQ.
Manipulated variable: Angle of The glass block is removed again.
incidence The point O and P is joined and is
Responding variable: Angle of drawn as line OP.
refraction The experiment is repeated 5 times
Fixed variable: Refractive index for the other angles of incidence.
List of apparatus and materials: Tabulate the data:
Glass block, ray box, white paper
Sinus
protractor,power supply .
i
Arrangement of the apparatus:
Sinus
r
Analysis the data:
Plot the graph Sin r against Sin i

17
 A pin is placed at the base of the
beaker as object O.
The another pin is clamped
horizontally onto the retort stand as
Experiment to investigate the image position indicator, I
relationship between real depth The beaker is filled with water.
and apparent depth. By using a ruler ,the real depth of the
Hypothesis: pin is measured = H
The apparent depth increases as the The pin O is seen vertically above the
real depth increases. surface of the water.
.Aim of the experiment : The position of pin I is adjusted until
To investigate the relationship parallax error between the pin O and
between apparent depth and the real the pin I is non- existent.
depth By using the ruler again ,the position
Variables in the experiment: of pin I is measured as the apparent
Manipulated variable: real depth depth = h
Responding variable: apparent depth The experiment is repeated 5 times
Fixed variable: Refractive index for the other value of H
List of apparatus and materials: Tabulate the data:
Pin,ruler,water,retort stand ,tall beaker H
Arrangement of the apparatus:
h
Analysis the data:
Plot the graph h against H

The procudere of the experiment

which include the method of
controlling the manipulated
variable and the method of
measuring the responding
variable.

18
 TUTORIAL
1 When light travels from one
medium to another, refraction
take place. Refraction is caused
by the change in the

A amplitude of light rays

B intensity of light rays
C strength of light rays
D velocity of light rays

2 An observer cannot see the coin in

an empty glass as shown in
Figure(a). However , he can see
the coin when the glass is filled
with water as shown in Figure(b).

Figure (a)
Figure (b)

The observer can see the coin in

Figure (b) due to

A the total internal reflection of

light
B the refraction of llight
C the reflection of light
D the diffraction of light

3 Which of the following is not

caused by the refraction of light ?

A A fish in pond appears nearer

to the surface of the water
B The sunlight reaches to the
earth in a curve path

19
 C A ruler appears to bend at the Which of the following diagrams
water surface. correctly shows the path of the
D The sea water appear in blue light ?
colour [ Medium P denser medium and
Medium Q less dense ]

4 Figure shows a light ray travelling

from medium R to medium S.

7 The diagram shows a light ray

travels from liquid L to liquid M.

Which of the following is true?

A The speed of light in medium R

is larger than the speed of Which of the following diagrams
light in medium S correctly shows the path of the
B The optical density of medium light ?
R is larger than the optical [ Refractive index of liquid M >
density of medium S Refractive index of liquid L ]
C The refractive index of
medium R is larger than the
refractive index of medium S

5 The diagram shows a light ray

directed into a glass block.
Which is the angle of refraction?

8 The diagram shows a light ray

which travels from the air to the
glass.

6 A light ray travels from medium P

to medium Q.

20
 What is the refrective index of the [ Refractive index of oil = 1.4 ]
glass?
A 44.4o B
A Sin S B Sin P 45.6o
Sin Q C 54.5o D
Sin R 55.4o
E 58.9o
C Sin Q D Sin R
Sin R 12 The diagram shows a light of ray
Sin S travels from the air into a glass
block.
9 Which of the following formulae
can be used to determine the
refractive index of a medium?

A Angle of incidence
Angle of refraction
B Apparent depth
Real depth
C Speed of light in vacuum
Speed of light in the medium What is the refractive index of the
glass block?

A 1.38 B
10 The diagram shows a light ray 1.45
travels from the air into medium C 1.51 D
X. 1.62
E 1.74

What is the refractive index of 13 The speed of light in the air is 3 x

medium X? 108 ms-1 . What is The speed of
light in a plastic block?
A 0.85 B [ Refractive index of plastic =
1.24 1.2 ]
C 1.31 D
1.41 A 1.0 x 108 ms-1 B 1.5 x
E 1.58 108 ms-1
C 2.0 x 108 ms-1 D 2.5 x
11 The diagram shows a light ray 10 ms-1
8

travels from the oil into the air. E 3.0 x 108 ms-1

14 The diagram shows a boy

appearing shorter when he is in a
swimming pool. The depth of the
water in the pool is 1.2 m.
What is the value of k?

21
 [ Refractive index of water = 1.33 [ Refractive index of plastic block
] = 1.2 ]
.

What is the time taken for the

light travels from point P to Q?
What is the apparent depth of the
pool? A 2. 5 x 10-8 s B 2x
10-8 s
A 0.1 m B 0.3 m C 1.5 x 10-7 s D 2 x 10-7
C 0.9 m D 1.1 m s
E 1.6 m E 2.5 x 10-7 s

15 The diagram shows a coin is put 17 The diagram shows a light of ray
at the base of the beaker. The from the air into a glass block to
image of the coin appears to be 5 find the relationship between the
cm from the base of the beaker. angle of incidence i and the angle
of refraction, r.

The following results were

What is the refractive index of the obtained as show in the following
liquid? table.
Angle of Angle of Sinus Sinus
A 8 B 5 inciden refracti i r
13 ce,i on,r
8 30o 19o
o
C 11 D 13 40 25o
5 50o 30o
8 60 o
35o
E 19 70 o
38o
14 (a) Complete the above table
16 The diagram shows a light ray (b) Plot a graph sinus i against
travels from air the plastic block. sinus r
The speed of light in the air is 3 x
108ms-1.

22
 ...........................................
................

...........................................
................

(e) The speed of light in the air is

ialah 3 x 108 ms-1,determine
the speed of light in the glass
block.

18 Figure(a) shows a mother

observing the legs of her son in
the pool . His legs appear to be
shorter because of a light
phenomenon.
(c) Based on your graph
(i) State the relationship
between i and r.

...........................................
.................
(ii) Name the law involved.

...........................................
.................
(iii) Determine the gradient of Figure (a)
the graph.
(a) (i) Name the light
phenomenon
involved.

(d) When the glass block is …………………………………………..

replaced by a diamond block, (ii) Explain how the
(i) what will happen to the phenomenon occurs.
gradient of the graph.

........................................... …………………………………………..
.................
(ii) give one reason for your
answer in (d)(i). …………………………………………..

23
 .................................................
………………………………………….. ...................
(iii) In Figure(b) , draw a ray
diagram from point P to (b) When H = 4.5 m and the
the eye to show how the refractive index of water is
legs appear shorter. 1.33, determine the value of
h.

(c) What happen to value of h

when the pond is poured with
water of refractive index
Figure(b) 1.40 ?

…………………………………………
(b) The depth of water is 0.4 m. ……….
Calculate the distance of the
image of the foot at point P
from the surface of the water.
[ Refractive index of water =
1.33 ]

(d) A glass tube is immersed vertically in

19 Figure(a) shows an object in a the surface of the water pond at a
small pond. The depth of the water depth 0.5 m as shown in Figure(b).
in the pond is H. The image of
the objet appears to be h from
water surface.

Figure (b)
When H = 4.5 m and the
Figure(a) refractive index of water =
1.33 , how far the base of
(a) State the relationship pond appear closer to the
between H and h surface of the water?

24