2020

REFRACTION OF LIGHT

TEACHERS OF PHYSICS
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8/19/2020
1. Define the term refraction of light. (1mk)
It’s the bending of light at the interface when it travels from one medium to another
at an angle.

2. Distinguish between reflection and refraction of light 1 mk

Reflection of light is the bouncing off of light while refraction of light is the bending
of light at the interface when it travels from one medium to another at an angle.

3. State SNELL’S LAW

It states that the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of
refraction is a constant for a given pair of media.
i.e

4. State the two laws of refraction of light(2mk)

(i)the incident ray, the refracted ray and the normal at the point of incidence all lie
in the same plane.
(ii) It states that the ratio of the the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the
angle of refraction is a constant for a given pair of media.
i.e

5. Define refractive index of a substance. (1 mk)

Is the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction for a
ray of light that is travelling from air to a substance.
6. Fig below shows two rays of light incident on a water-glass surface.

Complete the rays to show their paths from the glass to water. (2mks

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7. The refractive indices of water and glass are 4/3 and 3/2 respectively. Determine
the refractive index of a ray of light moving from water to glass. (3mks)
anw= ang=

solution
wng=wna x ang

= x ang
=1/(4/3) x3/2
=3/4 x3/2=9/8=1.13
8. Light is incident on an air-glass boundary at an angle of incidence of 400. If the
refractive index of the glass is 1.7, determine the angle of refraction. (3mk)
ng=

1.7=

Sinr= =0.37811
r=sin-1(0.37811)=22.2˚
9. i) and (ii) show refraction of light at air-water interface. Determine angle Ø in figure
(ii)

420 Ø
Air Air

Water Water
0
25
300

(i) (ii)

anw=sin42˚/sin30˚
=0.6691/0.5000
=1.34
From (ii)
wna=1/anw =sin25˚/sinӨ˚
therefore 1/1.34=sin25/ sinӨ˚
sinӨ˚=1.34 x sin25˚=0.5663
Ө˚=sin-1(0.5663)=34.49˚

10. A ray of light is incident on a glass oil interface as shown in figure below. Determine
the value of r (Take refractive index of glass and oil as 3/2 and 6/3 respectively)3mk
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 700 Oil

Glass
r

n1 sinӨ˚1=n2 sinӨ˚2
xsin 20˚= xsin r˚
Therefore sinr=6/3 x2/3 x sin20
=0.4560
-1
r=sin 0.4560
=27.13˚

11. The figure below shows a ray of light traveling through water, whose refractive index
is 1.33 and glass.

Water 600

Glass 660

Determine the refractive index of glass. (3mks)

n1 sinӨ˚1=n2 sinӨ˚2
1.33xsin30=ngxsin24˚
ng= =1.63496
12. A ray of light makes a glancing angle of incidence i = 60o with a flat glass surface as
shown in figure

i
Air

Glass
r

Given that the critical angle for glass is 42o determine;

(i) The refractive index of glass (2mks)
Refractive index, n=

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 (ii) The angle of refraction r (2mks)
n=sini/sinr
1.5=sin60˚/sinr˚
Sinr=sin60˚/1.5=0.5774
r=sin-10.5774=35.26˚
(iii) Given that the speed of light in air 3.0 x 108 m/s, find the speed of
light in glass (2mks)

n=
1.5=
V=
=2.0 x108m/s

13. A ray of light traveling in the direction EO in air enters a rectangular block as shown.
The resulting angle of refraction is 180.

A 600
B

180

C D
Find:-
(i) The refractive index of the block. (2mks)
ng=
1.618

(ii) The critical angle C of the block. (3mks)

Refractive index, n=
SinC=1/1.618=0.61803
C=38.173˚

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14. A ray of light travels from air into medium 1 and 2 as shown.
N1
400
AIR

Medium 1 N2
0
24

Medium 2 260
N3

Calculate;
i) The refractive index of medium 1.
For medium one i=40˚ and r=24˚ therefore
n1=
1.58035

ii) Critical angle of medium 1

Refractive index, n=
SinC=1/1.58035=0.6328
C=39.3˚

iii) The refractive index of medium 2 relative to medium 1 (1n2)

1n2=

=0.9278
15. For three media with parallel boundaries as shown in figure below, show that
2n3 = 2n1 x 1n3 (3mk)

1

1
2
2
3

1n2=sinӨ/sinӨ1 which implies that 2n1=sinӨ1/sinӨ 

3n1=sinӨ2/sinӨ which implies that 1n3=sinӨ/sinӨ2

2n1x x1n3= …………………(i)

2n3= ………………………………………………(ii)
Therefore from equation (i) and (ii) 2n3 = 2n1 x 1n3

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16. A ray light is incident at right angles at the face AB, of a right angled isosceles prism
of refractive index 1.6 as shown in the figure below.

If the prism is surrounded by a liquid of refractive index 1.4. Determine:

(i) The angle of incidence on the face BC. (1mk)
45o
(ii) The angle of refraction on the face BC. (3mk)
n1sinӨ1= n2sinӨ2
1.6 x sin45=1.4 x sinr

Sinr=
r=sin-1(0.8081)
r=53.9o

17. Two glass prisms are placed together as shown in figure below:

450
n=1.6 

n=1.4
0
45

If a beam of light strikes the face of one of the prisms normally as shown, at what
angle  does the beam emerge from the prism? (5mks)

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 n1sinӨ1= n2sinӨ2
1.6 x sin45=1.4 x sinr

Sinr=
r=sin-1(0.8081)
r=53.9o
at point A i=8.9˚ and therefore to find angle Ө
1/1.4=sin8.9˚/sinӨ
sinӨ=1.4xsin8.9˚=0.2166
Ө=12.51˚
18. Figure below shows the path of light through a transparent material placed in air.
AIR

1380
Transparent
material
Ray of
light

Calculate the refractive index of the transparent material. (3mks)

Critical angle =180o-90o=48o
Refractive index, n=

19. A student carried out and experiment on refraction of light incident on a glass block.
Sheobtained the following.
i r Sin i Sin r
20o 12.7 o 0.34 0.22
30o 18.9 o 0.50 0.32
40o 25.0 o 0.64 0.42
50o 30.0 o 0.77 0.50
60o 34.0 o 0.87 0.56
70o 37.0 o 0.94 0.60

(i). Complete the table for the values of sin i and sin r. (1mk)
(ii). Draw the graph of sin i (y – axis) against sin r. (5mk)

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 (iii). Determine the slope of the graph. What does it represent? (4mk)

Slope= =
=1.545
It represents the refractive index of glass block
(iv). Use the results in b (iii) to calculate the velocity of light in glass, given that
velocity of light in vacuum is 3.0 x 108 m/s. (3mk)
n(slope)=3.0x108/velocity of light in glass block
velocity of light in glass block=3.0x108/1.545
velocity of light in glass block=1.942x108m/s

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SPEED OF LIGHT
1. Light travels through glass of refractive index 1.5 with a speed V. Calculate the
value of V. (Speed of light in air = 3.0 x 108 m/s). (2mk)
n=
1.5=
V=
=2.0 x108m/s

2. Paraffin has a greater refractive index than that of water. Comment about the
relative velocity of light in paraffin and in water.
The relative velocity of light in water is higher than that of paraffin.
3. Calculate the refractive index of glass given that the velocity of light in air is 3x 10 8
ms-1 and velocity of light in glass is 2.4 x 108ms-1.
n=

=
=1.25

4. Calculate the speed of light in water (nw = 4/3, C= 3 x 108ms)

nw=

velocity of light in water=

Velocity of light in water=3.0 x 108 m/s x

=2.25 x 108 m/s

5. Liquid X has a greater refractive index than liquid L. What information does this
statement give with regard to:
(i) Velocity of light in the two liquids? (1mk)
Velocity of light in L is greater than that of liquid x
(ii) The path of light ray moving from liquid X to liquid L if the angle of incidence
in X is greater than zero degrees (i.e. i° > 00) (1mk)
The ray of light will be refracted away the normal such that ro>io

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REAL AND APPARENT DEPTH
1. The diagram below shows a transparent water tank containing water of refractive
index 4/3. An electric light is fixed at corner A of the tank. A light ray from the
slit shines on the water surface BC at an angle of 480as shown
B C
480

Ray of Water
light

A
Lamp

i) Determine the angle of refraction for the ray shown in the diagram.
By the principle of reversibility of light;
n = sin r/sin i
Sin r = n sin i = (4/3)sin 42° = 0.8922
r = 63.2°
ii) Complete the diagram to show the refracted ray.

2. Figure shows a coin placed in a large empty container. An observer looking into
the container from the position shown is unable to see the coin.

Observer

Coin

Sketch two rays from a point on the coin to show how the observer is able to
see the image of the coin after the container is filled with water.

3. An Eskimo walking along an Iceland observed an inverted image in the sky of a

polar bear standing some distance away. Explain (2mks)
A polar bear appears inverted in the sky due to mirage in very cold climates.
When slightly warm air settles over very cold air which is near the ground, the sky
reflects images on the ground to produce an inverted image.
4. A coin is placed beneath a transparent block of thickness 10cm and refractive
index 1.50. Calculate the vertical displacement of the coin. (3mks)
Refractive index, n = real depth
Apparent depth
Apparent depth = 10/1.5 = 6.67cm
Vertical displacement = 10 – 6.67 = 3.33cm

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5. A ray of light is directed at an angle of 500 on to a liquid-air boundary. The
refractive index of the liquid is 1.4.Show on a diagram the path taken by the ray
on striking the liquid-air boundary. Show how you arrive at your answer.
By the principle of reversibility;
n = sin r/sin i
Sin i = 1.4sin 40° = 0.899
r = 64°
Diagram to be drawn
6. A small object lies at the bottom of a water pond at a depth of 2.4m.Given that
the refractive index of water is 1.3, determine the apparent depth of the object.
Give your answer to 1 decimal place.
Apparent depth = Real depth
n
= 2.4/1.3 = 1.8m

7. A nail at the bottom of a beaker containing glycerine appears to be 6.8 cm below

the surface of glycerine. Determine the height of the glycerine in the beaker. (take
the refractive index of glycerine as 1.47) (3mk)
Real depth = n × Apparent depth
= 1.47 × 6.8
Height = 10 cm

8. A beaker of height 10 cm is filled with water. An optical pin which is at the

bottom of the beaker is then viewed from the top of the beaker. How far does the
4
pin appear from the surface, if the refractive index of water is ) (2mk)
3
Apparent depth = Real depth
n
= 10/(4/3)
= 7.5 cm
9. A pin is placed horizontally at the bottom of a beaker 9cm tall completely filled
with a liquid. Viewing from the top, the pin appears to be 2cm above the bottom
of the beaker. Calculate the refractive index of the liquid. (3mk)

Refractive index, n = =
=1.286
10. The real thickness of crown glass block of refractive index 1.58 is 10cm.
Calculate the apparent thickness of the glass.
Apparent thickness = Real thickness
n
= 10/1.58
= 6.3 cm

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11. A microscope is focused on a mark on a horizontal surface. A rectangular glass
block 30mm thick is placed on the mark. The microscope is then adjusted 10mm
upwards to bring the mark back to focus. Determine the refractive index of the
glass. (3mk)
Apparent depth=30-10=20cm

Refractive index, n = =
= 1.5
12. Calculate the apparent depth of an object, O in the fig below. (3mk)

Glass block
20cm
n = 1.5

Apparent depth = =
= 13.3 cm

13. A traveling microscope (M) is focused on a coin placed at the bottom of an empty
beaker as shown in the figure below
M
M 3cm

Coin Coin image

(i) (ii)
When water of refractive index 1.33 is poured into the beaker, the microscope has
to be raised through 3cm to focus the image of the coin, figure (ii). Calculate the
height of water poured into the beaker (3mk)

therefore apparent depth= real depth

But real depth-3cm=apparent depth= real depth
Therefore real depth=3cm
Real depth=3 x4=12cm.

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14. A vertical pin is fixed at the centre of a rectangular container with thin transparent
walls as shown below.
A

5 cm Pin

A transparent liquid is then poured into the container. When viewed from side A,
the distance of the pin is 1.9cm from the edge, determine the refractive index of
the liquid. (2mk)
Refractive index, n = 2.5/1.9 = 1.3

15. A small bright object O lies at the bottom of a beaker containing water of depth h.
A convex lens of focal length 15cm is held at the surface of the water. With this
arrangement the image of O is formed at a point 45cm from the water surface as
shown in the figure below.
Image

45cm
Lens

h Observer

Taking the refractive index of water to be 4/3. Determine

(i) the apparent depth of the object (2mk)

U=22.5cm
Hence apparent depth=22.5cm
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(ii) the real depth h, of the object (3mk)
Real depth = n × apparent depth
= (4/3) × 22.5
= 30 cm

16. The data below shows the results obtained when such an experiment was
performed by form three students using various values of real depths, Y of a
liquid.
Real depth (cm) 30 50 70 90 110 130
Apparent depth(cm) 22 37 52 66 81 96
i) Plot a graph of the real depth (y-axis) against apparent depth.

ii) From the graph, determine the refractive index of the liquid.

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Refractive index, n=slope= =

17. In an experiment to determine refractive index of water, a black line is painted on

the bottom of a tall glass container which is then partially filled with water. The
black line appears closer than it is really. The following results were recorded from
the experiment
Real depth (cm) 8.1 12 16 20
Displacement (cm) 2.2 2.9 4 4.9
Apparent depth(cm) 5.9 9.1 12 15.1

i. Complete the table for apparent depth row (2mks)

ii. Plot a graph of real depth against apparent depth on the grid provided (5mks)

(iii) Determine the refractive index for the water (2 mks)

Refractive index, n=slope= = =1.29

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18. The table below shows results obtained when an experiment was carried out using
various depths of a liquid.
Real depth (cm) 8.0 12.0 16.0 20.0 24.0 28.0
Apparent depth (cm) 4.88 7.32 9.76 12.20 14.64 17.08
(i) Use the table to plot a graph of apparent depth against real depth
(5mks)

(ii) Use the graph to determine the refractive index of the liquid. (3mks)

= =
Therefore n=
(iii) What is the real depth of the pin when the apparent depth is 2.44cm? (2mks)

Refractive index, n=slope= =

Real depth=1.639 x2.44=3.99916cm

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19. The graph shown below shows, the apparent depth (y-axis) against real depth.
Use it to calculate the refractive index of glass.

Apparent
depth (cm) 20

15

10

0 10 20 30 40
Real depth (cm)

Refractive index, n = ∆ real depth

∆ apparent depth
= 40 – 0
20 – 0
=2

TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION

1. Explain what you understand by the term critical angle as applied in optics (1 mk)
Its an angle of incidence in the optically denser medium for which the angle of
refraction in the less dense medium is 90o.

2. State two conditions necessary for total internal reflection to occur 2 mks
(i) Light must be travelling from a denser to a less dense medium.
(ii) The angle of incidence must be greater than the critical angle.

3. State TWO uses of total internal reflection.

(i). prismatic periscope
(ii)optical fibres
4. Give one use of an optical fibre. (1mk)
Used in medicine to view internal organs of the body.

5. State two uses of optical fibres whose working relies on total internal reflection.
(i). in medicine optical fibres are used to view internal organs of the body, as with
endoscope.
(ii) in telecommunication they have an advantage over ordinally cables since they
have higher carrying capacity.
(2mk)
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6. Kenya launched the use of optical fibres in communication recently. State why
optical fibres are preferred to ordinary cables.
Because they have higher carrying capacity.

7. A glass prism of has refractive index of 1.5. Calculate the critical angle of this glass
prism (3mk)
Sin C=

= =0.66667
C=Sin -1(0.6667)
=41.81o
4
8. The refractive index for air to water is , find the critical angle C for water – air
3
interface
Sin c=

= =

C= sin-1( )
=48.59o

9. Critical angle of a material is 420, determine the angle of retraction of light in the
material if the incidence angle is 300. (2 mks)
Refractive index n=

n= =1.5
〖 〗
but =n

therefore 1.5=

sin r= =0.3333
r=sin-1(0.3333)
=19.47o
10. e refractive index for air-water boundary is 4/3. Calculate the critical angle for
water–air interface.

Sin c=

= =

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 C= sin-1( )
=48.59o

11. Explain with an aid of a diagram why to a diver under water, most of the surface
looks slivery. Bubbles of air rising from the diver look slivery. (2mk)

12. Explain with the aid of a diagram, how a suitable glass prism may be used to turn a
ray of light 1800

13. Light travels from glass to air as shown. The refractive index of glass 1.5
Air

Glass 0
X
n=5

(a) Determine angle x

Sin X=
X=41.81˚ (2mk).
b). What name is given to angle x? (1mk)
Critical angle
14. The figure below shows the path of a ray of light passing through a rectangular glass
block placed in air.
Air
Glass
0
42

Ray

Calculate the refractive index of glass. (2mk)

Refractive index n=

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15. Complete the path of the ray shown until when it leaves the glass prism, given that
the criticalangle from glass is 420. (Show all the angles). (n = 3/2 for glass)

16. Complete the path of the ray shown until when it leaves the glass prism, given
thatrefractive indexfor glass is n= 1.5 and the critical angle of glass is 420. (Show
all the angles). (3mk)

17. The figure below shows two rays of light incident normally on one face of a glass
prism, whose critical angle is 42º .

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 Complete the diagram to show the paths of the two rays as they pass through the
prism. 3mks

18. Two rays are incident on the base of a triangular prism whose angles are   30 0 as
shown in the figure below. If the refractive index is n  1.414 , determine the angle
between the two emergent rays. (3mks)

For r from snells law r=45˚

19. Figure 6 show a ray of light incident on the face of a water prism.

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 Sketch the path of the rays as it passes through the prism. Critical angle for
water is 490

20. The fig 1 below shows a ray of light incident on a glass prism

Given that the critical angle for the grass is 390, sketch on the diagram the path of
the ray through the prism (2 mk)

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21. The figure below shows two rays A and B entering a semi circular glass block which
has critical angle of 420. The rays are incident at an air glass boundary at point O

Air

O
Glass
0
45
300
A

Complete the path of the two rays from point O. Label A1 and B1 the
corresponding rays.

DISPERSION OF LIGHT
1. Other than the peeling off of the silvering on mirrors. State two other disadvantages
of plane mirrors over prisms in making periscopes. ( 2mk)
(i). Mirrors absorb some of incident light.
(ii). Mirrors produce multiple images especially if they are thick
2. What is dispersion of light? (1mk)
Is the splitting of white light into its constituent colors due to the refractive index of
surface and wavelength of light.

3. What measurable quantity is associated with colour of light?

(i) Frequency
(ii) Wavelength

4. Fig shows white light falling on a prism.

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 X
White light
Y
a) Name the colour at X and Y (1 mk)
(i) X-red
(ii)Y-violet
b) Explain why a prism disperses white light into its component colors.(1 mk)
white light consists of several colours, each with different wavelength. Every colour
therefore travels with a different velocity in glass, so each color is deviated differently
causing dispersion.

5. The figure below shows a ray of light passing into a glass prism ABC. Sketch the
path of the ray as it travels from the face AC. (critical angle for glass is 420)

(2mk)
6. The figure below represents a ray of white light incident on one face of a triangular
prism, a spectrum is observed on a screen on the other side of the prism. Draw a
labeled diagram to show the path of differently coloured rays which produces the
spectrum observed on the screen. (3mk)

Screen

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7. The figure shows the path of a yellow light through a glass prism. The speed of
yellow light in the prism is 1.88 x 108 m/s.

600

Ө
r
Yellow light

a) Determine the refractive index of the prism material for the light. (Speed of
light in vacuum = 3.0 x 108 ms-1)
(speed of light in vacuum e = 3.0 x 108 ms-1)

Refractive index
= speed of light in vacuum
=3.0 x 108 m/s
1.88 x 108 m/s
= 1.596
b) Show on the figure, the critical angle C and determine its value.
c) Given that r= 21.20, determine angle Ө
=1.596
Ө=35.25˚
(d) Determine the critical angle for the prism. (2mk)
sin C= =0.6266

C=sin-1(0.6266)=38.8˚

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 e) On the same figure, sketch the path of the light after striking the prism if the
prism was replaced by another of similar shape but lower refractive index.
(Use dotted line for your answer).

8. Figure shows the path of a ray of red light through a glass prism. The speed of red
light in the prism is 2.02 x 108m/s.

Screen

10

Red light

a) Determine the refractive index of glass for red light given that the speed of
light in air is 3.0 x 108m/s. (2 mks)
(speed of light in vacuum e = 3.0 x 108 ms-1)

Refractive index = speed of light in vacuum

=3.0 x 108 m/s
2.02 x 108 m/s
= 1.49

b) Calculate the wavelength of red light in air if the frequency of red light is
4.3 x 1014Hz. (2 mks)
C=wavelength x frequency
3.0x108m/s=wavelengthx4.3 x 1014Hz
Wavelength=
=6.9767x10-7m
c) Calculate the wavelength of red light in glass. (2 mks)
C=wavelength x frequency
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 2.02x108m/s=wavelengthx4.3 x 1014Hz
Wavelength=
=4.6x10-7m

d) Given that the angle of refraction is 25.60. Determine the value of the angle
of incidence. n=
sinӨ=1.49xsin25.6
Ө=40.08˚ (2 mks)
e) Draw a ray to compete the path of red light in figure above up to the point
where it hits the screen. (Label this ray as e) `
f) If the red light shown in above is replaced by yellow light. Complete the
entire path of yellow light until it hits the screen. (Label this ray as f) (1
mk)
g) Is the speed of yellow light in glass more or less than that of red light?
Explain your answer. State one reason why prisms produce better optical
instruments than plane mirrors (1mk)
9. A student used the set up below in order to determine the refractive index of glass
white light. The results obtained are displayed in the table below the diagram

N
D0
i 0

Monochromatic
light

Angle i0 20 25 30 35 45 50 55 65 70
Angle D0 67 52 41 39 38 41 44 57 60

(i) In the grid below, plot a graph of D0 against i0 (5 marks

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 Min
d =36o
o

(ii) From the graph, determine the minimum angle of deviation, d0 (2mk)
Minimum angle of deviation=36o
(iii) Using the equation
d0
n  2 sin (300  ),
2
Determine, n, the refractive index of the glass (2 marks)
0
d
n  2 sin (300  ), therefore n=2 sin(30o+ )=2xsin48=1.4863
2

(iv) Use your value of n in (iii) above to determine the critical angle of glass
for white light (3 marks)

Sin C=

C=sin-1(0.6728)=42.28o

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