CENTRE FOR PRE-UNIVERSITY STUDIES

FPPH1034 OPTICS AND MODERN PHYSICS

COURSEWORK: PRACTICAL REPORT

2021 SEPTEMBER INTAKE

MARKS:
CLASS: FSA1301

PREPARED BY,

NAME STUDENT ID

1. HENG HUAI YU 21WPF10875

2. CHEN SZE NI 21WPF11635

3. IVORY CHAN YUN XUAN 21WPF10693

4. TAN WEN XIN 21WPF11382

5.TAN WAN YIN 21WPF11629

NAME OF LECTURER: MR GOH CHING LAM

DATE OF SUBMISSION: 21 July 2022

Objective: To determine the width of the glass block by the refraction method.

Apparatus:

1. Rectangular glass block

2. Four pins
3. Drawing board
4. Protractor
5. Vernier calipers
6. Half meter rules

Background of the experiment:

Light ray undergoing refraction through a parallel-sided glass block emerges parallel to the
incident ray but with a lateral displacement. This lateral displacement is dependent upon the
refractive index of the material of the block and the path length of the ray through the block.
This experiment is to study the lateral displacement of a light ray by a rectangular glass block
and hence determine the width of the block.

Procedure:

1. The average width in cm of the rectangular glass block was obtained by any direct
method.

2. The glass block was placed flat on a blank sheet of paper and its outline WXYZ
was traced.

3. Then, the glass block was removed and a line LA and AN were drawn on the
paper such that the angle of incidence 𝑖 is 10𝑜 as shown in Figure 1.
 Figure 1

4. The light ray on LA was adjusted while placing the glass block on WXYZ.

5. The refracted light ray BM was identified and emerged from the surface YZ of
glass block.

6. A line was drawn along the light ray BM on the paper.

7. The glass block was removed and point A and B were connected by drawing a
line.

8. The angle of refraction 𝑟 was removed in the glass block and the corresponding
lateral displacement 𝑑 in cm of the ray as shown.

9. 𝑖 was increased in steps of 10𝑜 and the experiment was repeated for as large as 𝑖
can go.

10. The angle (i-r) was calculated and 𝑑 cos 𝑟 against sin(𝑖 − 𝑟) was plotted. The slope
was determined in cm of this graph which is theoretically equal to the width of the
rectangular glass block.

Observation data:
 i/° r/° d/cm (i-r)/° sin (i-r) d cos r/cm
10 5 0.40 5 0.087 0.40
20 14 0.50 6 0.10 0.50
30 21 1.0 9 0.16 0.93
40 25 1.8 15 0.26 1.6
50 30 2.4 20 0.34 2.1
60 36 3.0 24 0.41 2.4

Analysis Graph:

Calculation:
From the graph, gradient = 6.7 cm
When x1 = 0.1, y1 = 0.5, x2 = 0.34, y2 =2.1
𝑦2− 𝑦1
𝑚=
𝑥2−𝑥1
2.1−0.5
= 0.34−0.1
1.6
= 0.24

= 6.7
Value of the width of the rectangular glass block from graph= 6.7 cm
Theoretical value of the width of the rectangular glass lock = 8.7 cm
8.7−6.7
% of error = × 100%
8.7

= 22.99%

Discussion:
Equation of the best fit line:
𝑦 − 𝑦1 = 𝑚(𝑥 − 𝑥1 )
𝑦 − 0.5 = 6.7(𝑥 − 0.1)
𝑦 − 0.5 = 6.7𝑥 − 0.67
𝑦 = 6.7𝑥 + 1.17

y-intercept of the best fit line

𝑦 = 6.7𝑥 + 1.17
When 𝑥 =0
𝑦 = 6.7(0) + 1.17
𝑦 = 1.17

1. Limitation: The light ray produced from the laser pen is hard to determine because the
room is too bright.

Solution: Turn off the light in the room.

2. Limitation: Inaccuracies while tracing the laser and measuring the angles
Solution: Repeat the experiments at least 3 times and obtain an average value
 3. Limitation: The normal line might not be perpendicular to the glass block.
Solution: Use right angled ruler to draw the normal line so that it was 90° to the glass
block.

4. Limitation: The surface of the glass block is not smooth enough and there are some
defects and cracks.
Solution: Make sure that the glass block is smooth.

Conclusion:
In this experiment, it can be concluded that the greater the angle of incidence, the greater the
angle of refraction. Hence, the light ray is obeying the Snell’s law which states that the sine
angle of incidence is directly proportional to the sine angle of refraction.