SBA #7 Skill: MM

Date: Feb. 2020 Title: Refraction & the Critical angle

Syllabus Topic: Properties of Waves

Aim: To investigate the refraction of light at an air/Perspex boundary and use the data obtained
to find the critical angle for light travelling from Perspex to air.

Theory: This should be based on the aim/topic. Diagram/s should be included and clearly
explained.

Materials/apparatus: Pins, semi-circular block (Perspex), plain paper, pencil, ruler, optical
board, protractor

Variables:

Method: Use pins to trace the passage of light through a semi-circular block of Perspex for
various angles of incidence. Note that the light is incident on the flat face and you must look at
the alignment of the pins through the curved surface. [If available, a light box could be used to
trace the rays instead of
pins]

It is important that you take care in setting up the apparatus: if the incident ray does not go
through the centre of the circle then the refracted ray will bend again at the curved surface. Plot
a graph of β against α and extend the graph to find the value of β when α is 90°. Also, plot a
second graph (sine α vs sine β) and obtain a second value for the critical angle along with the
refractive index of Perspex.

In your summary comment on the relative merits of the two alternative ways of handling the
data.

The method outlined above must be written in step format (1,2,3…etc) using
appropriate tense
Diagram:

Results: at least 6 sets of values

Angle of Incidence (α) Angle of Refraction (β) Sin α Sin β

Ray diagram: Diagram drawn during experiment.

Graph (best fit line through origin, including uncertainty):

Data Analysis: Calculation of accuracy, critical angle, refractive index etc..

Discussion: (Including limitations, errors etc)

Conclusion: Calculated value for critical angle and refractive index of Perspex