Reflection and Refraction of Light

LO:
Be able to describe the direction reflected light in different
situations.
 To know how light is refracted through
different medium.
Success criteria-
 State why refraction happens.
 Describe the direction light is refracted in
different situations.
 Use the equation for refractive index.

TEAM WORKERS
 To know how light is refracted through
different medium.
Observations-
• What do you notice about the angle of
refraction as the light ray enters the block
(from air into glass)?

• What do you notice about the angle of

refraction as the light exits the glass block
(from glass into air)?
Rectangular block air into block Semi circle block (block into air)
angle of angle of deviation / ° angle of angle of deviation / °
incidence / refraction / incidence / refraction /
° ° ° °
0 0
15 15
30 30
45 45
60 60
75 Observation

Rectangular block air into block Prism (block into air)

angle of angle of deviation / ° Face angle of angle of
incidence / refraction / incidence / reflection /
° ° ° °
0 1
15
30 1
45
60 Observation
75
light is refracted through different medium.

How does Refraction work?

• As the light enters a glass block or water it is refracted
(bent) when it enters and leaves the lens.
 Refraction of light at a plane surface
(a) Less to more optical dense transition (e.g. air to glass)

AIR
GLASS
normal

angle of
angle of refraction
incidence

Light bends TOWARDS the normal.

The angle of refraction is LESS than the angle of incidence.
(b) More to less optical dense transition (e.g. water to air)

angle of
refraction
normal

angle of
incidence WATER
AIR
Light bends AWAY FROM the normal.
The angle of refraction is GREATER than the angle of incidence.
 When the
Light can travel faster in air than it can in a liquid refracted ray or
or solid so it slows down when entering them. Emergent ray
leave the glass
block it speeds
up again and
swings AWAY
The Normal FROM the
line is always Normal.
90° to the
interface

When the incident ray enters

the glass block the ray slows
down and swings TOWARD The place where the 2
the Normal line. materials meet is
called the interface
 To know how light is refracted through
different medium.
• www.upscale.utoronto.ca/PVB/Harrison/Flash
/Optics/Refraction/Refraction.html
 To know how light is refracted through
different medium.
normals

observer
AIR
WATER

image

object at the
bottom of a pool

Why a pool appears shallow

 To know how light is refracted through
different medium.
A
B

D
C E
F
Complete the paths of the RED light rays:
 To know how light is refracted through
different medium.
A
B

D
C E
F
Complete the paths of the RED light rays:
Refractive index

The refractive index is the extent to which light

is refracted when it enters a medium.

It is calculated as:
n=sin i/sin r
where:
n = is the refractive index
i =angle of incidence
r =angle of refraction
Worked example
A beam of light hits a glass block. The angle of
incidence is 55°. The angle of refraction inside the block
is 33°. Calculate the refractive index.

Step 1
Work out the sine of angle i
sin 55 = 0.819
Step 2
Work out the sine of angle r
sin 33 = 0.545
Step 3
Divide sin i by sin r
refractive index = sin i ÷ sin r
refractive index = 0.819 ÷
0.545 = 1.50
 To know how light is refracted through
different medium.
• Refractive index = sin i / sin r
• Using the table of values below, calculate the refractive index of
the medium. Suggest which material the medium is made of.
Angle of Angle of Refractive Material
Incidence Refraction Index
24.0 15.7    
24.0 9.76    
24.0 18.2    
63.0 36.4    
47.0 29.2    

Material Refractive
Index
Glass 1.5
Perspex 1.5
Diamond 2.4
Water 1.3
 To know how light is refracted
through different medium.
Success criteria-
 State why refraction happens.
 Describe the direction light is refracted in
different situations.
 Use the equation for refractive index.

TEAM WORKERS
 To know how light is refracted through
different medium.
1. Using the above equation calculate what the angle of
incidence must have been to give the following angles
of refraction in glass.
– 23°
– 33°
– 40°

2. A beam of light shines on a diamond block with an

angle of incidence of 15°. Calculate the angle of
refraction.