This paper is all about the concept of Refraction. Refraction is further understood quantitavely by conducting an experiment using a glass plate and air as the medium of light propagation and both interchanged to determine or establish a consistent relationship with Refraction. In the experiment, it was determined that the index of refraction is always greater than 1. The data obtained in the experiment shows that a bigger index of refraction the denser a medium is and was proved by using the Snell’s Law. Furthermore, an experiment was conducted and was determined that the light ray when travelling in a medium that is denser, meaning a considerable index of refraction, to a less dense medium a total internal reflection occurs between the interfaces of media.
SAMPLE COMPUTATIONS PART A: GH =3.8 cm
Percent Error:
| Actual−Experimental |×100 Actual
%error=
FL=6.6 cm na =1.0
%error=16
Actual Value, n g=1.5 FL Experimental Value, n g=n a GH
( )
n g=1
( 6.6 3.8 )
n g=1.74 PART B: GH =4.8 cm
Percent Error:
FL=3.4 cm
| Actual−Experimental |×100 Actual
%error=
na =1.0 Actual Value, n g=1.5
%error=5.88
FL Experimental Value, n g=n a GH
( )
n g=1
( 4.8 3.4 )
n g=1.41 PART C: MU =5.8 cm
Percent Error:
EU =6.5 cm
| Actual−Experimental |×100 Actual
%error=
θc ( ACTUAL )=sin
−1
na ng
( )
%error=0.17
θc ( ACTUAL )=41.81 ° θc ( A EXPERIMENTAL ) =tan −1
( MU EU )
θc ( EXPERIMENTAL )=41. 74 ° SOURCES OF ERRORS: The possible sources of errors are only a few in this experiment and it is mostly due to human error like the plotting of pins on the incorrect coordinates and when the ray of light is directed on the medium incorrectly. CONCLUSION At the end of the experiment, the group was able to attain the given objectives: (1) to study the refraction of light, (2) to compare the angle of incidence in the first medium to the angle of refraction to the second medium, and lastly, (3) to determine the index of refraction of glass experimentally by applying the Snell’s Law. On the first and second part of the experiment, the group was able to study the refraction of light on different media – specifically the glass and air. The angle produced by the coordinates marked by the pushpins was proved to truly affect the angle of refraction. After obtaining the data, the group then applied the Snell’s Law in determining the experimental value of the index of refraction of glass. The experimental value of 1.74 and 1.41 was then compared to the actual value of 1.5 and computed for the percentage error. And lastly, the third part was done by the group by directing a ray of light which is the laser to the edge of the glass plate. The group were able to establish a relationship between the angle and the medium of where the light bends which is called the critical angle. The Snell’s Law was also used to compute for the experimental value of the critical angle which is 4.74 compared to the actual value of 4,81 and computing for the percentage error of 0.17 %.
