Title: Refraction

Aim: To investigate Snell’s Laws of refraction.

Apparatus/Materials: Optical board, protractor, rectangular glass block, 4 pins, thumb tacks, white
paper.

Diagram:

Procedure:

1. Using thumb tacks, fasten a sheet of paper onto optical board.

2. Draw accurately the outline of the rectangular glass block on the white paper.
3. Using a protractor, draw a normal in a position as shown in the diagram and draw an incident
ray measuring the angle of incidence, i=30o.
4. On the 30o incident ray, press two pins P1 and P2 firmly into the paper. Ensure that the pins are
upright.
5. Place the rectangular glass block accurately into the outline.
6. With eyes at bench level, observe rectangular block and find position where the image of P2
covering P1 is visible through glass block. Press in P3 and P4 so that they in turn cover the image
of P1 and P2. Ensure that P3 and P4 are in with the images of P1 and P2. P3 and P4 mark the
position of the refracted ray.
7. Remove all pins and draw the line through P3 and P4.
8. Remove the glass block and draw in the emergent ray (ray passing from glass to air) and the
refracted ray and measure the angle of refraction, r.
9. Repeat the experiment for the other angle of incidence, 0o, 40o, 50o, 60o.
10. Tabulate the values of the angles I and r and find values of sin I and sin r using calculator.
11. Plot the graph of sin I against sin r. Find the gradient of that graph.
12. Using the formula n=sin i/sin r, calculate the refractive indexes and record their values in the
table.
Results:

ϴi ϴr Sin i Sin r Refractive index

Average

Calculations:
Discussion: Define refraction, state laws of refraction, discuss relationship between I and r.
Sources of error
Precaution
Conclusion
 LAB #13 Skills Assessed: A/I ___ Marks
Data correctly entered into formula ___ (2)
Accurate calculation of refractive index ___ (2)
Answer given to appropriate sig. fig ___ (1)
Discusses the relationship between i and r ___ (1)
Sources of error ___ (2)
Precautions ___ (1)
Conclusion follows from data ___ (1)

Total ___ 10