GE-PHY 101: PHYSICS FOR ALLIED HEALTH PROFESIONALS

DE LA SALLE MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES INSTITUTE

COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES AND SCIENCES

EXPERIMENT 9. REFLECTION AND REFRACTION OF LIGHT

OBJECTIVES

1. Compare the angle of incidence with the angle of reflection in a plane mirror.
2. To determine the index of refraction of some material.

THEORY

In this experiment we are able to study the application of law of reflection and image formation of plane
mirrors. In geometric optics, the propagation of light is studied in terms of rays which are straight lines drawn
in the direction the wave is moving.
If light travels through two mediums with different velocities, the wave nature of the light causes its
direction to be altered as it passes from one medium to the other. This phenomenon is referred to as
refraction.

MATERIALS

1 Light Source 1 Ruler

2 bond papers 1 Protractor
1 Plane Mirror 1 Acrylic Glass
1 Ray Table

PROCEDURE

Part A. Angle of Incidence and Angle of Reflection

1. Position the light source on the left end of the optical bench. Turn the wheel to select a single ray.
2. Place the ray table about 25 cm. from the end of the light source housing. Make sure the 0° marks lie
on a line parallel to the bench (Figure A). Finally adjust the ray table so that the scored line run
perpendicular and parallel to the bench.

Figure A. Light Source and Ray Table

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 GE-PHY 101: PHYSICS FOR ALLIED HEALTH PROFESIONALS
DE LA SALLE MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES INSTITUTE
COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES AND SCIENCES

3. Place the mirror on the ray table. Position the plane (flat) surface of the mirror in the path of the incident
ray at an angle that allows you to clearly see the incident and reflected rays (Figure B).

Figure B. Incident Ray, Normal Line and Reflected Ray after

Reflection in a Mirror

4. Measure the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection. Measure these angles from the normal.
Record the angles.
5. Repeat steps 1–4 with a different angle of incidence.

PART B. Refraction of Light

1. Place the light source in ray-box. Turn the wheel to select a single ray.
2. Place a paper in front of the light source.
3. Place the trapezoid on the paper and position it so the ray passes through the parallel sides as shown
below (Figure C).

Figure C. Refraction of Light in a Trapezoid Acrylic Glass

4. Mark the position of the parallel surfaces of the trapezoid and trace the incident and transmitted rays.
Indicate the incoming and the outgoing rays with arrows in the appropriate directions. Carefully mark
where the rays enter and leave the trapezoid.
5. Remove the trapezoid and draw a line on the paper connecting the points where the rays entered and
left the trapezoid. This line represents the ray inside the trapezoid.
6. Choose either the point where the ray enters the trapezoid or the point where the ray leaves the
trapezoid. At this point, draw the normal to the surface.

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 GE-PHY 101: PHYSICS FOR ALLIED HEALTH PROFESIONALS
DE LA SALLE MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES INSTITUTE
COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES AND SCIENCES

7. Measure the angle of incidence (θ1) and the angle of refraction with a protractor. Both of these angles
should be measured from the normal. Record the angles.
8. Compute the index of refraction of the trapezoid acrylic glass using Snell’s law.

n1 sin θ1 = n2 sin θ2
n sin 1
n2 = 1
sin 2

Where n1 = index of refraction of air, n = 1

n2 = index of refraction of glass
θ1 = angle of incidence
θ2 = angle of refraction

9. Compare the computed index of refraction to the true value.

10. On a new sheet of paper, repeat steps 2 - 9 with different angle of incidence.

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 GE-PHY 101: PHYSICS FOR ALLIED HEALTH PROFESIONALS
DE LA SALLE MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES INSTITUTE
COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES AND SCIENCES

DATA SHEET

EXPERIMENT 9
REFLECTION AND REFRACTION OF LIGHT

Name: _________________________________________________ Date Performed: _________________

Course/Year/Section: _____________________________________ Date Submitted: _________________
Group No.: ___________________ Laboratory Instructor: ________________________________________

DATA AND RESULTS:

Part A. Angle of Incidence vs. Angle of Reflection

Angles Angle of Incidence Angle of Reflection Percent Error

θ1

θ2

θ3

θ4

θ5

Part B. Index of Refraction

Angle of Angle of Refraction, Computed Index of Refraction

Angles
Incidence, θ1 θ2 of Acrylic Glass
θ1

θ2

Average Index of Refraction

True Value of Index of Refraction

Percent error

GUIDE QUESTIONS:

1. How is the law of reflection and refraction of light observed in the experiment?
2. Why is the angle of the ray that leaves the trapezoid relative to the ray that enters it?

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