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Refraction DC DPP

This document outlines an IB Physics lab experiment on refraction of light. The aims are to investigate the relationship between angles of incidence and refraction as light passes from air into a Perspex block, verify the formula for refractive index, and investigate total internal reflection and the critical angle. Students will collect angle of incidence and refraction data by shining a light through a Perspex block and measuring the angles. They will then graph the data to verify Snell's law, calculate the refractive index, and compare the results from investigating total internal reflection to verify the formula for critical angle.

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53 views1 page

Refraction DC DPP

This document outlines an IB Physics lab experiment on refraction of light. The aims are to investigate the relationship between angles of incidence and refraction as light passes from air into a Perspex block, verify the formula for refractive index, and investigate total internal reflection and the critical angle. Students will collect angle of incidence and refraction data by shining a light through a Perspex block and measuring the angles. They will then graph the data to verify Snell's law, calculate the refractive index, and compare the results from investigating total internal reflection to verify the formula for critical angle.

Uploaded by

aryanmcywalia
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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International Baccalaureate Physics 4/PSOW

Refraction of Light
In this IB Lab you will be assessed on the following IB criteria:-

Data Collection, Data Processing

Aim:
 To investigate the relationship between the angles of incidence and refraction as light travels into a
rectangular Perspex block.
 To verify experimentally the formula: Refractive index n = sin i / sin r
 To investigate total internal reflection and the “critical angle”, C, of a refractive substance.
 To verify experimentally the formula: Refractive index n = 1 / sin C

Method (Part A): incident ray


1. Place the rectangular Perspex block on a sheet of white
paper. i normal
2. Draw around the block (in case it gets disturbed).
3. Shine a single, thin ray of light from a ray box, incident to
one long face of the block. r
4. Mark the incident ray entering the block and the emergent
ray exiting the block.
5. Measure the angle of incidence (i) and the corresponding
angle of refraction (r). refracted ray
6. Vary the angle of incidence so that 8 different pairs of
results can be collected. r = angle of incidence
i = angle of incidence
Method (Part B):
1. Place the semi-circular Perspex block on a sheet of white
paper.
2. Draw around the block (in case it gets disturbed). r
3. Shine a single, thin ray of light from a ray box, incident to
the curved face of the block, pointing at the centre of the
i
straight face
4. Mark the incident ray entering the block and the emergent
ray exiting the block.
5. Increase the angle of incidence (i) until the emergent ray
disappears and the light is reflected inside of the glass
block.
6. Measure angle i and the corresponding angle of reflection.

Data Collection:
 From Part A, collect and record pairs of data (angles I and r) including units and uncertainties.
 Present these data clearly in a suitable table.
 From Part B, record the critical angle C.

Data Processing and Presentation:


 Use your results from part A of the experiment to plot a suitable graph that will verify the formula
for refractive index of Perspex.
 Calculate the refractive index of the Perspex using your graph.
 Use the results from part B to calculate the refractive index of the Perspex.
 Compare the results for refractive index from the two experiments.
 Which one do you think is the most accurate? Why?

Mike Dickinson 734990263.doc

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