Phet Simulator: Bending Light!

Name: __________________________
Date: ____________ Period: ______

1) Go to the following: https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/bending-light and click Play, then click Intro.

2) When the simulator window opens, you should notice a laser pointing at a 45o angle downwards to the right. Look
to the right of the window and notice that the two information boxes are explaining the mediums that are shown on
the screen. What are the two mediums on the simulator window currently? ________________________________

3) Click on the RED button on the laser. What TWO things does the light do as it hits the surface of the water?

______________________________________________________________________________________________

4) On the bottom left side of the simulator window, you should notice that you have two tools available for you to use.
Select the bottom tool that looks a bit like a magnifying glass. Move the tool into the general water area.

5) Take the LENS and drag it directly over the light coming from the laser BEFORE it hits the surface of the water.
Notice you can measure the intensity of the light when the lens is placed over the beam. Fill in the table below:

Laser pointed @ 45o angle from vertical

Location of Lens Intensity of Light

Beam of light BEFORE it hits the surface of the water

Beam of light in the water

Beam of light being reflected off of the surface

Laser pointed @ 10o angle from vertical

Location of Lens Intensity of Light

Beam of light BEFORE it hits the surface of the water

Beam of light in the water

Beam of light being reflected off of the surface

6) Move the lens out of the way and select the protractor tool from the toolbox. Place the protractor over the vertical
dotted line so that the dotted line runs straight through zero. Confirm that the laser is coming in at a 45o angle.
7) Now, move the laser pointer so that you change the angle of incoming light. Adjust the laser point so that it is only
10o to the left of the zero mark or vertical dotted line. Once the laser pointer is in this location, move the protractor
tool back to the tool box and fill in the table again below using the lens.
8) Now, move the laser pointer so that you change the angle of incoming light again. Adjust the laser point so that it is
Laser pointed @ 80o angle from vertical
Location of Lens Intensity of Light

Beam of light BEFORE it hits the surface of the water

Beam of light in the water

Beam of light being reflected off of the surface

80o to the left of the zero mark or vertical dotted line. Once the laser pointer is in this location, move the protractor
tool back to the tool box and fill in the table again below using the lens.

9) a) Based on what you have observed, describe the relationship between the angle of incoming light and the
percentage of light that is transmitted through the water versus the percentage of light that is reflected.

______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
b) Describe how the angle of incoming light compares to the angle of light reflecting off of the surface of the water
(use the protractor tool if you are not sure):

______________________________________________________________________________________________

10) Bring the laser so it is shining directly down onto the surface of the water. Use the lens to measure the following:
a) What percentage of light enters the water? ___________________
b) What percentage of light is reflected back upward? __________________

11) Click the reset button on the bottom right corner. You can CHANGE the mediums/materials on the right. For each of
the following, show (sketch) how light bends and reflects using the different medium boundaries.

Option 1: Air and Water Option 2: Air and Glass

Air Air
Water Glass
 Option 3: Water and Glass Option 4: Custom- you pick!

12)

Water Medium: _______

Glass Medium: _______

Explain what will happen if you pick the same medium for both the top and the bottom portions of the simulator
window and turn the laser on.

______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________

13) Adjust the mediums so that a denser medium is placed ABOVE a less dense medium. Use the protractor to bring the
laser light to a 60o angle from the left of the zero mark (or dotted vertical line).

a) Sketch and label your choices below and show how the light behaves when coming in at a 60o angle:

Medium: _______
Medium: _______

b) Explain what happens to the light when the laser

is moved downward between the 60o angle and
 the surface of the less dense medium below:

_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________

_________________________________________

c) What is this called? _______________________

14) Use the protractor to determine at which angle can you move the laser upwards so that you can begin to see the
light enter the less dense medium below? ___________

15) What is the only medium (not provided) that light would travel through even faster than air? ___________________
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Gizmo: Basic Prism

Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)

A prism is a transparent object that can be used to bend, or refract, light. The photo below shows what happens when
sunlight passes through a prism.

1. What do you see? ________________________________________________

2. What does this indicate about the composition of sunlight?

________________________________________________________________

___

Gizmo Warm-up

The Basic Prism Gizmo allows you to investigate how a prism refracts light.
The Gizmo shows a laser emitting a beam of light through a triangular prism.
To begin, check that Single color beam is selected, λ is 500 nm, n is 1.50, w
is 2.0, and the angle (θ) is 0°.

1. What do you notice about the path of light when it passes through the prism? ________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Move the λ slider to increase and then to decrease the wavelength of the beam of light.

A. How does this affect the color of the light ray? __________________________________________________
 B. How does this affect the direction of the light ray? _______________________________________________

Gather data: Set n to 1.50. The Gizmo also allows you to change the width of the prism (w), the angle of the
prism (θ), and the wavelength of the light (λ). Describe the effect of each action listed below. Return the Gizmo
to its starting conditions after each trial.

Action Effect on path of light ray exiting the prism

Decrease w to 1.0.
Increase w to 3.0.
Decrease θ to -30°.
Increase θ to 30°.
Decrease λ to 400 nm.
Increase λ to 700 nm.