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Regents Physics

Chapter 12 Waves
Speed of Light and Refraction
The speed of light will change when going from one medium to another. The speed
of light in air is 3 x 108 m/s and can never go above this number. However, when
light travels through a more dense material (such as water) the light will slow
down and bend.

THE LIGHTS FREQUENCY WILL NOT CHANGE!!!

Therefore, the speed of a wave is directly proportional to its wavelength. So
if a light wave slows down, then its wavelength gets shorter.
Refraction: The change in direction of a wave due to a change in speed at the
boundary between two different media (such as air and water). The wave must
travel obliquely (at an
angle).

Refraction is responsible for the apparent bending of a straw based in a glass of

water.
In the above diagram, notice:

There are two different mediums.

A normal line is drawn perpendicular to the boundary (interface) of the
two mediums.
Both angles are measured FROM THE NORMAL!!!
There is an angle of incidence (between the incident ray and the normal).
There is an angle of refraction (between the refracted ray and the normal).

Absolute Index of Refraction

The absolute index of refraction, n, is the ratio of the speed of light in a
vacuum, c, to the speed of light in a material medium, v. The index of refraction
has NO UNITS.

Every material has an index of refraction. The more dense the material, the
higher the index of refraction! The indices of refraction for different material can
be found in your reference tables.
After several derivations, the relationship between the velocities and wavelengths of
light in two different media can be summed up as:

n1 is the index of refraction for the first medium

n2 is the index of refraction for the second medium
v1 is the velocity of the incident wave
v2 is the velocity of the refracted wave
1 is the wavelength of the incident wave
2 is the wavelength of the refracted wave

Note: Make sure to MAKE A LIST OF VARIABLES. Notice how the subscripts are
not consistently on the same sides of the equation.
For Example:
1.) In a certain medium, light travels at 2 x 108 m/s. Determine the index of
refraction of the medium.

2.) How fast does light travel in flint glass (n = 1.66)?

3.) Light travels from water (n = 1.33) into lucite (n = 1.5). If the light originally
has a wavelength of 600 nm in water, calculate its wavelength in lucite.

4.) The velocity of a light wave in a certain material is 1.2 x 10 8 m/s and has a
wavelength of 400 nm. Entering a new medium, the wavelength then drops
to 200 nm. What is the new velocity of the wave?

5.) A light wave has a wavelength of 900 nm in ethyl alcohol (n = 1.36). The
wave then travels through a new medium and has a wavelength of 637.5 nm.
Determine the material through which it travelled.

Snells Law
The mathematical relationship that governs the refraction of light is called Snells
Law.

n1 is the index of refraction for the first medium

n2 is the index of refraction for the second medium
1 is the angle of incidence
2 is the angle of refraction

Note: The Regents expects you to know how to construct the refracted ray and
calculate its angle. Therefore, we need practice with the protractor!
The light will bend either away from the normal or towards the normal. A
good acronym to remember how the light will bend is:

FAST-SOFA

If the light travels

density), the light
If the light travels
density), the light

from a fast medium (low density) to a slow medium (high

will travel TOWARDS the normal.
from a slow medium (high density) to a fast medium (low
will travel AWAY FROM the normal.

For Example:
6.) If light travels from air (n = 1.00) to glycerol (n = 1.47), will the light bend
towards or away from the normal?
7.) If light travels from glycerol to water (n = 1.33), will the light bend towards or
away from the normal?
For example:
8.) A light wave in air (n = 1.00) enters water (n = 1.33) at an angle of 30 o.
Determine the angle of refraction.

9.) A light wave leaving the water enters fused quartz (n = 1.46) at a refracted
angle of 60o. Determine the angle of incidence.

10.) A light wave leaves air at an angle incidence of 42 o and enters an unknown
material at
an angle of refraction of 25.75o. Determine the material.

11.) Calculate and construct the refracted ray.

12.) Calculate the first angle of refraction and construct the angle of refraction
as the light emerges from point P.