Purpose: The purpose of this lab was to determine the index of refraction for multiple shaped

lenses. This was to find which objects were glass and which were plastic.
Procedure:
1. Select which lens will be tested and record which number lens it is to keep track of it in the
future.
2. Place shape on paper vertically and trace it.
3. Place a laser pointer light somewhere on the paper, angled so the light shines into the prism.
4. Draw a dot on the paper where the light comes from the laser pointer and another dot where
the light hits the lens.
5. Place a screen behind the lens where the light exits this lens.
6. Draw another dot where the light exits the lens and one where the light hits the screen.
7. Draw straight lines to connect the dots.
8. Draw the normal to the shape outline at each of the angles.
9. Measure the angles of each line from the normal.
10. Solve the equation nisini=ntsint to find the n value for the lens.
11. Record data.
12. Repeat steps 2-10 with the shape placed on the paper horizontally.
13. Repeat all steps for each of the four lenses.
Calculations:

Object

Refractio
n#

ni

nt

i ()

t()

1. a

1.00

1.63

55

30

II

1.56

1.00

11

1.00

1.35

35

25

II

1.46

1.00

25

38

1.00

1.93

39

19

II

1.67

1.00

19

33

1.00

17.6

38

II

0.81

1.00

43

34

1.00

1.32

31

23

II

1.72

1.00

20

36

1.00

6.95

29

1. b

6. a

6. b

5. a

5. b

0. a

0. b

II

2.70

1.00

25

1.00

1.62

59

32

II

1.67

1.00

32

62

1.00

2.75

35

12

II

2.31

1.00

14

34

Equations/Sample Calculations:
nisini=ntsint

Conclusion
The behavior of light provides a large amount of information, from the size and temperature of
the emitting object to the type of material the light is moving through. When light encounters an
obstacle, it can be reflected, refracted, absorbed, diffracted, or transmitted. This lab, however,
focused solely on the refractive properties of light. As light leaves one medium and enters
another, it will bend and refract, changing its direction. If the second material consists of two
layers, such as a lens or a prism, the light will refract twice. The incident and refracted angles
created with the normals (lines perpendicular to the surfaces of the mediums) are related in the
equation nisin i = ntsin t. This equation is referred to as Snells Law. The ns symbolize
the index of refraction of the incident and refraction mediums. The purpose of this lab was to
measure the angles of incidence and refraction beams of light made in prisms and then use
Snells Law to determine the index of refraction of each prisms material. Students shot laser
beams through prisms of different shapes and sizes to attempt to determine whether the prisms
were made out of glass or plastic. The index of refraction of plastic is 1.5, and glass is slightly
higher. This made it difficult to determine for sure whether each prism was glass or plastic. It
was determined, after carefully measuring the angles and performing numerous Snells Law
calculations, that Object 1 is made of plastic, Object 6 is made of glass, Object 5 is plastic, and
object 0 is glass.
Extra Credit:
To tell the difference between glass and plastic, you could try to smash it, try to melt it, or tap it
against your teeth to hear what kind of sound it makes.