Investigating Snells Law
Investigating Snells Law
Investigating Snell’s Law
Research Question:
The effect that the angle of incidence of white light has on the angle of refraction from one transparent medium to another.
Introduction:
Snell’s law state: When light passes from one transparent medium to another the rays of light refract (bend).
Snell’s law (Law of Refraction) states that: n*=sinⅈsinr=n2n1=V1V2 for the purpose of this experiment we will be proving that: sinⅈsinr=n2n1 or n1sinⅈ=n2sinr where n1 and i are the index of refraction and angle with the normal to the surface for the incident ray, respectively, and n2 and r are for the refracted ray.
Aim:
The aim of this investigation is to prove determine the relative refractive index of perspects.
Hypothesis:
Sin i / Sin r will produce a constant ratio – the refractive index for perspects
Variables:
Independent Variable: Sine of the angle of incidence (Sin i)
Dependent Variable: Sine of the angle of refraction (Sin r)\
Controlled Variables: The light source was kept constant, the same block of perspects was
used.
Uncontrolled Variables: Not relevant
Apparatus:
* Ruler, Protractor, Incandescent Light Source
Procedure:
Given on the assignment sheet (Investigating Refraction: Snell’s Law)
Results:
Raw Data | Processed Data |
Trial # | Angle of Incidence (°) | Angle of Refraction (°) | Sin i | Sin r | Sin i/Sin r |
1 | 53 | 33 | 0.798 | 0.546 | 1.462 |
2 | 41 | 27 | 0.656 | 0.454 | 1.445 |
3 | 31 | 21 | 0.515 | 0.358 | 1.439 |
4 | 29 | 20 | 0.485 | 0.342 | 1.418 |
5 | 10 | 8 | 0.174 | 0.139 | 1.252 |
Discussion:
Although it appears there are no major outliers on this graph when the slope is taken of Sin i/Sin r the first point on the graph gives a slope of 1.252, opposed to the other results of approximately 1.44.
These results show that the relative refractive index of Perspex is equal to 1.441 (slope of the line). This is given by the average of
Investigating Snell’s Law
Research Question:
The effect that the angle of incidence of white light has on the angle of refraction from one transparent medium to another.
Introduction:
Snell’s law state: When light passes from one transparent medium to another the rays of light refract (bend).
Snell’s law (Law of Refraction) states that: n*=sinⅈsinr=n2n1=V1V2 for the purpose of this experiment we will be proving that: sinⅈsinr=n2n1 or n1sinⅈ=n2sinr where n1 and i are the index of refraction and angle with the normal to the surface for the incident ray, respectively, and n2 and r are for the refracted ray.
Aim:
The aim of this investigation is to prove determine the relative refractive index of perspects.
Hypothesis:
Sin i / Sin r will produce a constant ratio – the refractive index for perspects
Variables:
Independent Variable: Sine of the angle of incidence (Sin i)
Dependent Variable: Sine of the angle of refraction (Sin r)\
Controlled Variables: The light source was kept constant, the same block of perspects was
used.
Uncontrolled Variables: Not relevant
Apparatus:
* Ruler, Protractor, Incandescent Light Source
Procedure:
Given on the assignment sheet (Investigating Refraction: Snell’s Law)
Results:
Raw Data | Processed Data |
Trial # | Angle of Incidence (°) | Angle of Refraction (°) | Sin i | Sin r | Sin i/Sin r |
1 | 53 | 33 | 0.798 | 0.546 | 1.462 |
2 | 41 | 27 | 0.656 | 0.454 | 1.445 |
3 | 31 | 21 | 0.515 | 0.358 | 1.439 |
4 | 29 | 20 | 0.485 | 0.342 | 1.418 |
5 | 10 | 8 | 0.174 | 0.139 | 1.252 |
Discussion:
Although it appears there are no major outliers on this graph when the slope is taken of Sin i/Sin r the first point on the graph gives a slope of 1.252, opposed to the other results of approximately 1.44.
These results show that the relative refractive index of Perspex is equal to 1.441 (slope of the line). This is given by the average of