Refraction: Making Quantitative Observations Using Snell’s Law

Previously in our study of the refraction of light, we were only able to make qualitative observations about
how light bends.

While we can estimate what will happen to the ray of light in the above scenario, there is actually an exact
mathematical relationship between the angle of ____________________ and the angle of
____________________, which was discovered by Dutch astronomer and mathematician Willebrord Snell.

Snell’s Law uses the index of refraction for two media to calculate the new angle that the ray of light takes
as it strikes the interface between the two media.

Learning Check
When light passes from air into water at an angle of 30° from the normal, what is the angle of refraction?

Practice Problems:
Pages 441 #2, 3 and 442 #1 - 3
Math Review: How to Use Your Scientific Calculator
Scientific Notation
Scientific notation is the way that scientists easily handle very large numbers or very small numbers. For
example, instead of 0.0000000056, we write

* A positive exponent shows that the decimal point is shifted that number of places to the right.

* A negative exponent shows that the decimal point is shifted that number of places to the left.

Express the following numbers in scientific notation. Your answer should have 3 digits in the Digit Term.

a) 256 ________________ b) 33100 _________________ c) 0.0000220 _________________

d) 470000000000 _______ e) 0.0207 _________________ f) 0.000000300 _______________

Calculations in Scientific Notation - every calculator is different… learn how to use YOURS!!
Use the 10x button on your scientific calculator to calculate the following terms; express the final answer in
scientific notation:
−7
4.5 × 10
a) −6 = b) (2.25 × 108) × (2.00 × 104) =
1.5 × 10
8
3.6 × 10
c) (3.33 × 10-7) × (1.23 × 10-8) = c) 5 =
2.7 × 10

Sine Function

Snell’s Law involves the Sine function. Use the Sin button on your scientific calculator to calculate the
following Sine functions (Make sure the calculator is in Degree Mode):

a) Sin 30° = b) Sin 45° = c) Sin 60° =

d) Sin 90° = e) Sin 15° = f) Sin 75° =

Use the Sin-1 button to calculate the degree values (Ɵ) from Sine values:

a) Sin Ɵ = 0.25; Ɵ = b) Sin Ɵ = 0.45; Ɵ = c) Sin Ɵ = 0.65; Ɵ =

d) Sin Ɵ = 0.85; Ɵ = e) Sin Ɵ = 0.10; Ɵ = f) Sin Ɵ = 0.30; Ɵ =