Saint Catherine’s School

PRE – SCHOOL, ELEMENTARY, JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

PAASCU ACCREDITED
Real St., Buag, Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya

WHEN LIGHT BENDS

Experiment #___

Introduction
Refraction is the bending of light when it passes through different media
(transparent materials) at different speeds. How light bends depends on its speed in
the two media and on the angle of incidence. If an incident light at an angle slows down
as it enters a second medium, it is bent toward the normal. If it speeds up upon
entering the second medium, it is bent away from the normal.

Objectives
 Investigate how light is refracted when it passes through a rectangular glass
plate
 Determine the index of refraction of a glass

Estimated Time Frame

60 minutes

Materials
rectangular glass plate (about ¼ inch thick) protractor
laser pointer 2 sheets bond paper
ruler pencil

Procedure
1. Place the rectangular glass plate at the center of a bond paper. Use a pencil to
trace the outline of the glass plate so that it may be returned to its original
position when moved.
2. Position the laser pointer along line AB as shown in figure 1. Mark any two points
C and D along the emergent ray.
3. Remove the glass plate and connect the points as shown. The overall path light
is from AB to BC to CD.
4. Draw lines perpendicular to the surface of the glass (and bond paper) at points
B and C. These lines are the normal to the surface at points B and C.
5. Observe that the light is refracted twice. For the first refraction, when light
passes from air to glass, identify the incident ray and the refracted ray. Label
them in your drawing.
6. Using the protractor, measure the angle of incidence and the angle of refraction.
Record them in your data table.
7. Compute for the index of refraction of the glass using Snell’s Law. The index of
refraction of air is 1.00.
8. The second time the light ray is refracted is when it passes from glass to air.
Identify the incident ray and the refracted ray for this refraction. Label them in
your drawing.
9. Measure also the angle of incidence and the angle of refraction.
10. Use Snell’s Law to compute for the index of refraction of the glass.
11. Get the average value of the index of refraction of the glass using the two values
that you obtained. Record your results.
12. Ask your teacher for the accepted value of index of refraction of the glass.
Compute for the percent error.
13. Repeat steps 1 – 12 using a different angle of incidence. Use a new sheet of paper.
Record your data and results under Trial 2.
14. Submit all your drawings along with the answer sheet.
Name: ____________________________________ Date Performed: ___________________
Group No.: ________________________________ Date Submitted: ___________________
Section: ___________________________________ Rating: ____________________________

WHEN LIGHT BENDS

Experiment #___

Data and Results

Air to Glass Glass to Air

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 1 Trial 2
Angle of incidence (degrees)
Angle of refraction (degrees)
Index of refraction of air 1.00 1.00
Experimental value of
index of refraction of glass
Average index of refraction
of glass
Accepted value of index of
refraction of glass
% error

Computations
Conclusions

Post – Laboratory Questions

1. From the results of your experiment, what did you observe in the angle of
incidence at the air – glass interface and the angle of refraction at the glass – air
– interface?

2. Based on the results of your experiment, what happened to the light ray as it
passes through a rectangular glass plate? Support your answer using Snell’s
Law.

3. When a ray of light from air enters a piece of glass plate, the angle of incidence
is 63˚ and the angle of refraction is 36˚. What is the index of refraction of the
glass?