Physics Core Practical 4: Investigating the refraction of light using different blocks and prisms

Observations:

Observe the behaviour of light in the rectangular glass block. You do not to record anything here, as
you will be completing core practical 5, which focuses in more detail on rectangular blocks.

Then, observe the light in the semi-circular block.

What do you see has happened to the refracted beam?

Record the critical angle for the semi-circular block as demonstrated in the video. This is also
demonstrated using phet – you can demonstrate it yourself:
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/bending-light/latest/bending-light_en.html

Observe the section of the video which shows the behaviour of light in the right-angled triangular
prism. In this box, predict the path of light through two right-angled triangular prisms arranged as
follows, and complete the diagram

Observe the section of the video which shows the behaviour of light in the equilateral triangle prism.
Note the orders of the colours in the dispersed light.

Second
Conclusions:

Using your value for the critical angle calculated using the semi-circular block on the phet equation,
estimate the refractive index of this block, using this equation:

1 ÷ sin c = refractive index

(use the ‘sin’ button on a calculator to work out the sin of the critical angle)

Show workings and answer here →

In the experiment involving the equilateral triangular prism, you should observe the dispersion of
light. Describe the differences in the paths of the red light and the violet light.

Answer here →

Evaluation:

For the experiment involving the right-angled triangular prisms, it is possible to set up an experiment
with two right-angled prisms, like the one in the diagram in the assignment. In this experiment, it is
essential that the horizontal edges are parallel. Describe a method you could use to achieve this:

Answer here →