Exploring Refraction

1067 Words3 Pages

Exploring Refraction

Refraction is the bending of the path of a light or sound wave as it

passes across the boundary separating two mediums. If a wave of light

travels from one medium to another the direction is changed.

Refraction is caused by the change in speed experienced by a wave when

it changes medium. A wave doesn't just stop when it reaches the end of

a medium there will be some reflection off the boundary and some

transmission into the new medium. The wave undergoes refraction as it

approaches the medium. This can be demonstrated by shining a beam of

light through a block of rectangular glass. Refraction also causes the

wave length to change but the frequency never changes.

How does refraction happen?

Light slows down as it hits a denser medium for example, glass. If you

were to direct a beam of light at a glass block you will see that the

light changes direction when entering the glass. The reason for this

is when the light comes into contact with the glass at an angle; one

edge of the light beam slows down before the other. This causes the

light to bend towards the normal until both edges are travelling at

the same speed. The normal is the line from where the angled are

measured.

Diagram showing the refraction of light.

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Planning of the experiment

Aim of experiment

I am going to carry out an experiment to find a relationship between

the incident angle and the refracted angle when light is shone through

a rectangular Perspex block.

Equipment used

For this experiment I will need:

· A light box.

· A light slit.

· A rectangular Perspex block.

· A power pack.

· A protractor.

· A ruler.

· A pen or pencil.

· A sheet of paper.

Method

Firstly, I will draw around the Perspex block; this enables me to draw

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