A smooth surface, such

as a mirror, it reflects
light so that the rays
travel in the same
direction.
Laws of reflection:
1. Angle of
incidence = angle
of reflection.
2. Incident ray,
normal & reflected
ray, lie in same
plane.
Reflection in a plane mirror
Reflection when rotating the plane mirror
1
The speed of light is constant for any given
medium with a maximum of c =3 x 10
8
m/s in
a vacuum.

This means that it can travel the length of the
Earths equator in 134 m.s or about 8 times
this distance in 1 second!

It is less in more dense
mediums such as water
& glass etc.
Measuring the speed of light today
Early measurements of speed of light
Speed of light in glass
2
Refraction is the changing of speed and often
the changing of direction when light enters or
leaves a new transparent medium.

Optical density is a measure of how much
slower light travels through a substance than
through a vacuum. Glass and perspex are
optically more dense than air.

Refraction is responsible for the fact
that the handle does not seem to be
connected to the rest of the spoon.
Refraction of light
3
The refractive index (n) of light is the ratio of
the speed of light in a vacuum (c) to the speed
in another optical medium (v). It is thus a ratio
of two speeds and has no units.
v
c
n
This table gives a
comparison of the different
index of refraction for
different substances.
The more optically dense,
the greater is n, the
refractive index.
Coin in bowl experiment
4
Ensure
you know
the names
of angles
an rays.
Refraction through glass slab
5
Name the angles & rays through a glass block:
Incident ray
Angle of incidence
Refracted ray
Emergent ray
i
r
Angle of
refraction
2
3
Is there any relationship between the incident and
emergent rays? Explain.
6
d
i
Name the different angles and rays.
Refraction through triangular glass prism
Dispersion
7