3.2.

2 Refraction of light
 The bending of light when it passes from one material (called a medium) to
another is called refraction.
The perpendicular to the boundary between two mediums
is called the normal.
The angle of incidence (i) is the angle between the
incident ray and the normal; similarly, the angle of
refraction (r) is the angle between the refracted ray and
the normal.
Notes:
1. For the refraction to take place two optical media are
needed.
2. In refraction, both magnitude and direction of velocity
of light change.
3. The velocity of light in a medium depends upon the
optical density of the medium.
4.The more optically dense a medium is, the smaller is
the velocity of light in that medium.
 Facts about refraction
(i) A ray of light is bent towards the normal when it enters an
optically denser medium at an angle, for example from air to glass.
The angle of refraction r is less than the angle of incidence i. (r i)
(air)

(glass)
(ii) A ray of light is bent away from the normal when it enters an
optically less dense medium, for example from glass to air. The
angle of refraction r is greater than the angle of incidence i. (ri)
(glass)

(air)
(iii) A ray travelling along the normal direction at a boundary is
not refracted.
(iv) A ray emerging from a parallel-sided block is parallel to the ray entering,
but is displaced sideways.
Real and apparent depth
The apparent depth is less than its real depth.
 Refractive index (n)
Light is refracted because its speed changes when it enters another medium.
The refractive index, n, of a medium is defined by the equation;
In air (and a vacuum) light travels at 300 000 km/s (3 × m/s); in glass its speed falls
to 200 000 km/s (2 × m/s) (Figure). The refractive index, n, of a medium, in this
case glass,
Experiments also show that
The more light is slowed down when it enters a medium from air, the greater
is the refractive index of the medium and the more the light is bent.
Some refractive index values are given in the table. The medium with the
highest refractive index has the greatest bending effect on light because it
slows the light the most.

Worked example
Now put this into practice (Pg-145)
 Relation between the velocity of light and the optical density of a medium
 The velocity of light in a medium depends upon the optical density of that medium.
 The more optically dense a medium is, the smaller is the velocity of light in that
medium.
 That means the velocity of light is inversely proportional to the optical density of the
medium.
v
v = velocity
D = optical density of medium

e.g. When a ray of light passes from air to water, the velocity of light in water
decreases. On the other hand, when the ray of light passes from water to air, the
velocity of light increases.
Note : (1) Refractive index depends on (1) wavelength ( n )
(2) velocity ( n )
(3) density of medium ( n D )

(2) Refractive index of air, nair = 1 (one)

 Critical angle and total internal reflection

If the angle of incidence If the angle of incidence If the angle of incidence

is less than the critical is equal to the critical is greater than the
angle, the light refracts angle, the light refracts critical angle, the total
away from the normal. at 90 to the normal. internal reflection
occurs.
 Critical angle
At a certain angle of incidence, called the critical angle, c,
the angle of refraction is 90° and the refracted ray passes
along the boundary between the two media.

Total internal reflection

For angles of incidence greater than c, the refracted ray
disappears and all the incident light is reflected inside the
denser medium. The light does not cross the boundary and is
said to undergo total internal reflection.
 Refractive index and critical angle
n = sin c (∵ sin 90̊ = 1)
y x

= sin( ∵ ynx = )
c n =
x y

=
For refraction y to x,
The refractive index of the medium in which
By Snell’s law, ynx =
the object is situated is equal to the
When i= c, r = 90̊ , reciprocal of the sine of the critical angle.
ynx =

Worked example, Now put this into practice(Pg-147)

 Totally reflecting prisms
The defects of mirrors are overcome if 45° right-angled glass prisms are
used.
Total internal reflection occurs and the ray is turned through 90°. Totally
reflecting prisms replace mirrors in good periscopes (Figure a).
Light can also be reflected through 180° by a prism (Figure b); this happens
in binoculars.

(a) (b)
 Light pipes and optical fibres
Light can be trapped by total internal reflection inside a bent glass rod and
‘piped’ along a curved path (Figure). A single, very thin glass fibre behaves
in the same way.

Figure: Light travels through a curved glass rod or fibre by total internal
reflection.
Test yourself (Pg-149)