Experiment 18

REFLECTION AND REFRACTION

EQUIPMENT

1 Optics Light Ray Kit

PROCEDURE
Video tape: “Geometrical Optics”
1 Cork Board A. Reflection of Light Rays
1 Protractor
1 Rectangular Plastic Cell
Ruler
Tap Water
Light Refraction Program

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this experiment is to investigate the

behavior of light at the boundary of two media.

Light ordinarily travels in straight lines. When going from

one medium to another, light will take the most efficient path
and travel in a straight line. It is this idea which underlies
all the formulas that describe light paths. It is referred to as
Fermat's principle of least time: light takes the path that
requires the least time when it goes from one place to 1. Using a protractor, measure
another. If a surface is smooth, an incident (incoming) light the angle between the
ray will be reflected off the surface at the same angle from normal line and the incident
which it was incident. In other words, the angle of incidence ray line on ray diagram
equals the angle of reflection. This is the law of reflection. worksheet number 1; this is
The law of refraction describes the path of a light ray which the incident angle. Record
passes from one medium into another. A ray of light its name and value on the diagram.
entering a transparent medium at an angle will be bent.
This bending is caused by the difference in the speed of 2. Place the ray diagram on the pin board and place 2 or
light in the two media. 3 pins along the incident ray.

In this laboratory exercise you will investigate for yourself 3. Attach a support to the plane mirror and place it in
the laws of reflection and refraction. Using ray tracing position on the diagram.
diagrams, pins, mirrors, and various media, you will
describe the behavior of incident, reflected, and refracted 4. Position yourself so that you
rays. Through these descriptions you will satisfy yourself of are looking at the mirror and
the correctness of these laws. can see the reflected image
of the pins. Now place 2 or
3 pins, in line with this
image, between your eye
and the mirror. You should
be able to look down the line of pins and see only one
pin. These pins describe the position of the reflected
ray.

5. Remove the pins and the diagram from the pin board.
Now draw a line connecting the holes left by the
reflection ray pins. This is the reflected ray. Label it
with its name.

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6. Use the protractor to 5. Remove the pins and the
measure the angle between diagram from the pin
the reflected ray line and the board and draw a line
normal line; this is the angle connecting the holes left
of reflection. Label this by the pins you positioned
angle with its name and in step 4. Your diagram
value. Your diagram should should now resemble
now look similar to Figure 1. Figure 2.

mirror

normal
inc
ide
y

nt
re
ra

θi
θi θr fle

ray
nt

ct
de

ed
ci

angle of angle of
in

ra
incidence reflection y
normal

Figure 1

tra
B. Refraction of Light Rays

ns
θt

mi
normal
1. Place ray diagram worksheet number 2 on the pin
Figure 2

tte
board and place several pins along the pre-drawn

dr
incident ray.

ay
2. Place the square plastic medium in the corner outline
on the diagram. Be sure that a clear edge of the square 6. From the example of Figure
is intersected by the incident ray. Complete tracing the 3, draw a line representing
outline of the plastic medium on the worksheet. the path of the light ray
through the medium.
3. Now place 2 pins on the incident ray line. Position
yourself on the opposite side of the block from your
pins so that you are looking through the other clear normal
edge and viewing the transmitted images of the pins.
Find where the pins form a straight line (as you did in
part A). Place 2 pins so that they line up with the image
in the plastic. qi Refracted
incident ray
ray

qr

q t transmitted ray
Figure 2

4. Now place pins between

your eye and the near normal
edge of the square, in line
with this single image.

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7. Draw the Normal
perpendicular line for the
Transmitted Ray.

8. Measure all angles — incident, refracted, and

transmitted — with the protractor and label them with
their names and values.

9. Repeat steps 1 - 8 using the

rectangular plastic cell on
ray diagram Data Sheet
number 3. Then repeat with
the cell (empty first, then
with water) partly filled with
water. Measure all angles
and label as appropriate on
the diagram.

10. Use the computer program, LIGHT REFRACTION, to

find the velocity of light through each medium used in
the previous steps. Record the calculated values in the
space provided on the diagrams.

11. Using ray diagram sheet number 4 and the triangular

plastic medium, place 2 pins in the incident ray. Find
the transmitted ray for the incident ray shown.
Carefully examine all sides of the triangle for
transmitted rays.

Note: The incident and transmitted rays enter and

leave the same side of the triangle. This is a
case of total internal reflection. The light ray
is reflected from the inside walls of the
triangle, not bent by refraction.

12. Draw the path taken by the ray as it is reflected on the

inside of the triangle.

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Experiment 18
GEOMETRICAL OPTICS: REVIEW QUESTIONS
Your instructor will present the videotape “Geometrical Optics” for your viewing enjoyment and education. After
watching the first section of the tape, you will have several minutes to complete the first ten questions. The tape
will continue so that you may check your answers, then you will be required to answer the last five questions on
your own

Please be sure to answer the first ten questions BEFORE the answers are given.

1) What is the value of the speed of light in air or free space?

2) What are some common sources of light which make objects visible?

3) What evidence exists to show that light travels in a straight line?

4) What is the law of reflection relating the incident and reflected angles?

Draw a diagram to illustrate this concept and label each angle.

5) When light is refracted, what changes that causes its path to bend?

Is light bent away from or toward the normal when passing from water into air?

Draw a diagram showing the path of light passing from water into air. Be sure to label the angles of incidence
and refraction, the normal, the names of the two media, and indicate the direction the ray is travelling.

6) What is the difference between diffuse and specular reflection? Give examples of each.

7) What are the two types of lenses discussed? Draw a diagram of each.

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8) Define the focal length of a converging lens.

Draw a diagram of parallel rays entering such a lens illustrating their focusing at the focal point. Label the
focal point and focal length.

9) Draw a diagram that shows how the converging lens of the eye focuses light on the retina.

10) Draw an additional diagram illustrating the type of lens used to correct for myopia or nearsightedness.

STOP THE TAPE AND REVIEW YOUR ANSWERS.

CONTINUE THE TAPE TO REVIEW THE CONCEPT OF SIMPLE MAGNIFYING LENSES.

11) Write down the relationship between the image and object distances and magnification. M (magnification) is
defined as the ratio of image to object distance.

Draw a diagram that illustrates the meaning of the image and object distances.

12) What is a virtual image and when is a virtual image formed by a converging lens?

13) How can a converging lens be used as a magnifying glass?

Draw a diagram illustrating the position of the eye, lens, and object in this case.

14) What type of converging lens can be used to produce the most effective magnifying glasses?

STOP THE TAPE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DISCUSSION OF A COMPOUND MICROSCOPE. YOU WILL NOT
BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS INSTRUMENT. INSTEAD WE WILL CONCENTRATE ON THE EYE AS AN
OPTICAL INSTRUMENT IN FUTURE LABORATORIES.

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Experiment 18
Reflection & Refraction DATA SHEET
Name: __________________________

Table: ___________________ Section: _______

Tracing Diagram #1

mirror
normal
y
ra
t
en
cid
in

40
Experiment 18
DATA SHEET
Ray Tracing Diagram #2

incident ray

norma l

Velocity of light through plastic ________________ .

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Experiment 18
DATA SHEET
Ray Tracing Diagram #3

incident ray

norma l

incident ray

norma l

Velocity of light through air __________________.

Velocity of light through water ________________.

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.

Experiment 18
DATA SHEET
Ray Tracing Diagram #4

N
or
m
al
In
id
n
c

t
e
y
a
R

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QUESTIONS

1) Do your results for Part A support the Law of Reflection as defined in your textbook?

Fermat’s Principle is closely related to the laws of reflection and refraction. What is Fermat’s Principle and
how does it apply to these laws?

2) State the Law of Reflection.

3) Compare the velocities of light through the three media studied by recording the name of each media in order
of slowest to fastest.

4) If you stick a pencil into a glass of water, it appears bent or broken depending on the angle from which it is
viewed. Why is this so?

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