Fundamental Physics III Lab

RAY BOX EXPERIMENTS

Using the Light Source as a Ray Box
To use the Light Source as a ray box, remove the bracket if it is attached. The power cord from
the transformer must be unplugged from the Light Source before taking the bracket off or putting the
bracket on (Figure 1). The Light Source is held in place by the spring action of the bracket. To remove
the bracket, hold the light source box in one hand and pull outward on each of the bracket’s two sides,
pulling the light box’s side tabs out of the bracket. Set the Light Source box on a piece of white paper on
the table. Plug the transformer into the power supply jack on the side of the light box. If you set the Light
Source on the table with the label side up, it will produce white light rays. If the label side is down, it will
produce the three primary colors. To select the number (1, 3, 5) of white rays, slide the plastic mask
which is fastened to the front of the box until you see the desired number of rays.

1. Color Addition
To investigate the resulting colors of objects illuminated with different color-combinations of light.

1. Place the ray box on a white sheet of paper on the table. Adjust the box so the primary colors are
showing. If the white screen from the Optics Bench (OS-8518) is available, it can be laid flat on the
table to make a good viewing platform for this experiment. It may be helpful to raise the front end of
the box by approximately 1 cm (The concave lens works fine for this). This causes the colored rays to
shine out a further distance.

2. Place the convex lens near the ray box

so it focuses the rays and causes them
to cross each other at the focal point.
What is the color of the light where the
three rays come together? Record the
result in Table 1. It may be helpful to
place a white card or wall to project the
focal point (Figure 1).

3. Now block the green ray with an

opaque object. What color results from
adding red and blue? Record the result Figure 1. Ray box for color addition.
in Table 1. Repeat, blocking one color
each in succession and complete Table 1.

Guide to analysis

1. Why does red, green, and blue light beams result to a white light when combined? Do you think
color-blind individual would see the same effect? Why? You may use spectral diagrams to better
describe your answers.
2. What happens to the light when different colors of them are added? What do we need to consider in
choosing colors that produce white light? Describe white light based on these. How would a white
light source differ from another source?
3. What is the color resulting from mixing equal amounts of red, green, and blue paints? Why?
 Fundamental Physics III Lab

2. Prism refraction
To investigate the refraction of light with different colors through a prism.

According to Snell’s Law,

n1 sinθ1 = n2 sinθ2 (1)
where nr and θr are the index of refraction and the angle of light from the normal of the rth medium
(r=1,2), respectively. Thus, the angle of refraction θ2 depends on the angle of incidence θ1 and the
indices of refraction of the materials. Since the index of refraction for light varies with the frequency of
the light, white light which enters the material at a given angle of incidence will separate out into its
component colors as each frequency is bent at different angles.

A rhombus made of Acrylic has an index of refraction of 1.497 for light of wavelength 486 nm (blue)
in a vacuum, 1.491 for wavelength 589 nm (green), and 1.489 for wavelength 651 nm (red). Notice that
in general for visible light, the index of refraction for Acrylic increases with increasing frequency.

1. Place the ray box, label side up, on a white sheet

of paper on the table. Adjust the box so that one
white ray is showing. If the white screen from
the OS-8518 Optics Bench is available, it can be
laid flat on the table to make a good viewing
platform for this experiment.

2. Position the rhombus as shown in Figure 2. The

triangular end of the rhombus is used as a prism
for this experiment. Keep the ray near the point
of the rhombus for maximum transmission of the
light.

3. Rotate the rhombus until the angle (θ) of the

emerging ray is as large as possible and that the Figure 2. Ray box for color separation.
ray separates into colors.
(a) What set of colors are seen and in what order is this?
(b) Which color is refracted most (largest angle of refraction)?
(c) According to Snell’s Law and the information given about the frequency dependence of the index
of refraction for Acrylic, which color should refract at the largest angle? Indicate whether this
prediction is observed or not.
Secondary set
4. If you rotate the prism a little more, the of colors
formation of a secondary set of colors can
be observed (Figure 3). Why is there a
secondary set? What causes its
emergence? Draw a ray trace to explain Ray
the phenomenon. Why is the order of the Box
color arrangement reversed?

5. Turn the ray box over and shine the three

primary color rays into the rhombus at Figure 3. Formation of secondary set of colors.
the same angle used for the white ray. Do
the colored rays emerge from the rhombus parallel to each other? Why is this so?
 Fundamental Physics III Lab

3. Reflection – Plane and Curved Mirrors

To study the reflection of light beams in mirrors.
To determine the focal length and radius of curvature of different types of mirrors.

Part A. Plane Mirror

1. Place the ray box, label side up, on a white sheet
of paper on the table. Adjust the box so one
white ray is showing.

2. Place the mirror on the table and position the

plane surface of the mirror at an angle to the ray
so that the both the incident and reflected rays
are clearly seen.

3. Mark the position of the surface of the plane

mirror and trace the incident and reflected rays.
Indicate the incoming and the outgoing rays Figure 4. Reflection from plane mirror.
with arrows in the appropriate directions. On
the paper, draw the normal to the surface. See Figure 4.

4. Measure both the angles of incidence (θi) and of reflection. Both angles should be measured from the
line normal to the surface. Record the angles in Table 2. Change the angle of incidence and measure
the angles of incidence and of reflection again. Repeat this procedure for another two different
incidence angles (Three different angles of incidence).

5. Adjust the ray box so it produces the three primary color rays. Shine the colored rays at an angle to
the plane mirror. Mark the position of the surface of the plane mirror and trace the incident and
reflected rays. Indicate the colors of the incoming and the outgoing rays and mark them with arrows
in the appropriate directions.

Guide to analysis

1. What is the relationship between the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection?
2. Give observations in nature supporting the changes in the order of the colors observed when parallel
colored rays are made incident on the plane mirror.

Part B. Cylindrical Mirror

Theory
A concave cylindrical mirror will focus
parallel rays of light at the focal point. The focal
length is the distance from the focal point to the
center of the mirror surface. The radius of
curvature R of the mirror is twice its focal length
f. See Figure 5.
Figure 5. Focal point of cylindrical lens.
 Fundamental Physics III Lab

1. Shine five white rays straight into the concave mirror so the light is reflected back toward the ray box.
Draw the surface of the mirror and trace the incident and reflected rays. (Avoid scratching the
mirrors!) Indicate the incoming and the outgoing rays with arrows in the appropriate directions.

2. The point where the five reflected rays cross each other is the focal point of the mirror. Measure and
record the focal length in Table 3. Measure the curvature of the mirror based on its drawn surface.
Record this in Table 3. Will the beams still converge to a single point if the focus is moved to the side
by rotating the mirror?

3. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 for the convex mirror. Note that in Step 2, the reflected rays are diverging for a
convex mirror and they will not cross. Use a rule to extend the reflected rays back behind the mirror’s
surface. The focal point is where these extended rays cross.

Guide to analysis

1. How do your results confirm the discussed relation of the radius of curvature of a mirror and its focal
length?
2. Can a mirror focus light as cylindrical mirrors do?
3. Does each pair of beams in the Part B Procedure 2 intersect at the same point? What are the possible
consequences of this fact?
4. What happens to the focus when the mirror is rotated to the side? Give possible reasons for this
phenomenon.

4. Snell’s Law
To understand the application of Snell’s Law in determining the index of refraction of an acrylic
rhombus.

Theory

From Snell’s Law, the relation between the direction of the

incident and refracted rays are depicted in Figure 6. We can
see in this example that the index of refraction of the second
medium is larger than the first since the ray is bent towards
the normal line.

1. Place the ray box, label side up, on a white sheet of

paper on the table. Slide the ray mask until only one
Figure 6. Snell’s law.
white ray is showing.

2. Position the rhombus on the table so that the ray

passes through the parallel sides as shown in Figure
7. Mark the position of the parallel surfaces of the
rhombus and trace the incident and transmitted
rays. Indicate the incoming and the outgoing rays
with arrows in the appropriate directions. Mark
carefully the points where the ray enters and leaves
the rhombus. Be careful and do not scratch the
faces of the rhombus.
Figure 7. Snell’s law setup.
 Fundamental Physics III Lab

3. Choose either the point where the ray enters the rhombus or the point where the ray leaves the
rhombus. At this point, draw the normal to the surface.

4. Remove the rhombus and on the paper draw a line connecting the points where the ray entered and
left the rhombus.

5. Measure the angle of incidence (θi) and the angle of refraction with a protractor. Both these angles
should be measured from the normal. Record the angles in Table 4. Change the angle of incidence
and measure the incident and refracted angles again. Repeat this procedure until a total of three
different incident angles have been recorded.

6. Using Snell’s Law and your data, determine the index of

refraction for the Acrylic rhombus, on the assumption that the Ray 2
index of refraction of air is unity. Compare your result to the
accepted value from literature (usually around 1.5) using a Ray 1
percent difference. Ray
Box
7. After performing all the steps in the experiment, arrange the
rhombus until you reproduce the Figure 8. Explain the nature
of rays 1 and 2 and provide a ray trace diagram. Compare Figure 8
their intensity? Why is this so?

Ray 1
8. Tilt the rhombus a little more until you see rays 1 and 2
Ray as in Figure 9. Explain how such a display of rays is
Box Ray 2
formed. Include ray diagrams in your explanation.

Figure 9

Guide to analysis

1. Using refraction alone, can the colors comprising a white light be separated? If yes, how. If your
answer is no, why?
2. What happens to the intensity of light as it passes from one medium to another? Would this violate
the Energy Conservation Law? Why?

5. Total internal reflection

To confirm the value of critical angle using the Snell’s Law.

Theory
Whenever light travels form a medium of higher index of refraction to a medium of lower index
of refraction, there exist a limit to the angle of incidence for refraction to occur. Beyond a maximum
incidence angle θc, the critical angle, total internal reflection occurs and there is no refracted light. In this
case, the refraction angle is undefined. The critical angle can be theoretically determined using Snell’s
Law by setting the angle of refraction to 90°,
n sinθc = (1)sin(90°) (2)
 Fundamental Physics III Lab

after knowing the index of refraction n=n1 and with the assumption that n>1. From Equation 2, we can
solve for the critical angle of an acrylic-air interface.

1. Place the ray box, label side up, on a white sheet

of paper on the table. Slide the ray mask until
only one white ray is emitted. Position the
rhombus as shown in Figure 10. Do not shine the
ray through the rhombus too near the triangular
tip.

2. Rotate the rhombus until the emerging ray barely

disappears. Just as it disappears, the ray separates
Figure 10. The schematics of into colors. The rhombus is correctly positioned
the total internal reflection. if the red has just disappeared. Mark the vertices
of the rhombus (to indicate the endpoints of the
line segments of the rhombus). Mark the point
on the surface where the ray is internally reflected. Also mark the entrance point of the incident ray
and mark the exit point of the reflected ray.

3. Remove the rhombus and draw the rays that are incident
upon and that are reflected off the inside surface of the
rhombus (Figure 11). Measure the angle between these
rays (you may use a protractor). Record the critical angle
in Table 5. Notice that the critical angle is half the
measured angle between the incident and reflected rays.

4. Based on Snell's Law and the accepted index of refraction

of the Acrylic used, calculate the theoretical critical angle
and complete Table 5.
Figure 11.
5. After performing all the steps in the experiment, rotate the
rhombus until θ > θc. Arrange the setup so that two total
internal reflections are produced in the rhombus. Sketch the position of the rhombus, the light source,
and the paths of the light beams.

6. Determine the position of the rhombus relative to the incident beam so that the light beam refracted
from the rhombus goes back to the source. This is the principle of retro-reflection; normally used in
vehicle reflectors. Draw the set-up in your logbook.

Guide to analysis

1. Compare the brightness of the reflected light when total internal reflection occurred from that when
there is no total internal reflection yet.
2. Based on the observed critical angles of light with different colors, how is the critical angle related to
the wavelength? What do you think this tells us about the index of refraction of the acrylic? Do you
think this observation can be generalized to all media? Why?
3. Do you think the concept of the presence of critical angle important in the formation of rainbow?
Why is that so?
 Fundamental Physics III Lab

6. Index of refraction measurement

To determine the index of refraction of a material using indirect methods.

Apparent Depth Method

Light rays originating from the bottom surface of a block of
material refract at the top surface as the rays emerge from the
material into the air. This phenomenon is schematically shown
in Figure 4. When viewed from above, the apparent depth, d, of
the bottom surface of the block is less than the actual thickness,
t, of the block. The apparent depth can be shown given by
d=t/n (2)
where n is the index of refraction of the material. Figure 4. Apparent depth

1. Place the ray box on a white piece of paper. Using five white rays from the ray box, shine the rays
straight into the convex lens (Figure 5). Place the mirror on its edge between the ray box and the lens
so that it blocks the middle three rays, leaving only the outside two rays. You could alternatively use
three rays for this procedure eliminating the necessity of a block for the three inner rays.

2. Mark the place where the two (alt: three) rays cross each other.

3. Place the rhombus as shown in Figure 5. The bottom surface of the

rhombus must be exactly at the point where the two (alt: three)
rays cross. The crossed rays simulate the rays that emerge from the
bottom of the rhombus block discussed above.

4. Trace the rays diverging from the top surface. Mark the vertices of
the rhombus and the entrance point of the rays and removing it
from the paper. Turn off the light source to conserve energy.
Complete the bottom and top surfaces of the rhombus with a line
and trace the rays diverging from the top surface. Trace the
diverging rays back until they intersect at one point. The place
where these rays crosses (inside the rhombus) is the apparent
position of the bottom of the rhombus when viewed from the top.

5. Measure the apparent depth, d, and the thickness, t of the rhombus.

6. Calculate the index of refraction of the material using Equation 1.

7. Calculate the percent difference between the measured value and Figure 5. Optical setup
the accepted value. Complete Table 5.

Focal Point Displacement Method

Parallel rays passing through a convex lens cross at the focal point of the lens. If a block with parallel
sides is placed between the lens and the focal point, the focus moves further from the lens. Since the
thickness, t, of the block has an apparent depth, d, that is less than the thickness (since n>1 usually), the
point where the rays cross must move by an amount equal the difference between the actual thickness of
the block and the apparent thickness of the block. Thus the distance, x, that the focal point moves is given
by
x = t - t/n, (3)
where n is the index of refraction of the block.
 Fundamental Physics III Lab

1. Turn the light source on. Using a new sheet of

paper, mark the place where the two rays
cross. Set the rhombus between the lens and
the focus. See Figure 6. The rays will be
focused onto a different position. Mark the
new place where the rays cross.

2. Move the rhombus to a new position, closer to

the lens. Does the position of the focal point Figure 6. Movement of the focal position
change? with acrylic rhombus present.

3. Turn off the light source and measure the distance, x, between the marks. With the aid of Equation
3, complete Table 6.

Guide to analysis

1. What do you think are the limitations of the methods presented above? Suggest other methods of
measuring index of refraction of a transparent material.
2. Why is it difficult to shoot a target if it is underwater and you are above the surface? How would
your answer change if the situation is reversed that is the arrow and the target's positions are
interchanged?
Data Sheet Fundamental Physics III Lab

RAY BOX EXPERIMENTS

1. Color Addition
Table 1. Results of color addition
COLORS ADDED RESULTING COLOR
red + blue + green
red + blue
red + green
blue + green

2. Prism Refraction

Use your logbook for answers to the questions and clear sketches required in this section.

3. Reflection – Plane and Curved Mirrors

Table 2. Plane mirror results
ANGLE OF INCIDENCE ANGLE OF REFLECTION

Table 3. Cylindrical mirror results

CONCAVE MIRROR CONVEX MIRROR
Focal Length
Radius of Curvature

4. Snell’s Law
Table 4. Angle measurements
ANGLE OF INCIDENCE ANGLE OF REFRACTION n of RHOMBUS

Average n
Percentage difference

5. Total internal reflection

Table 5. Angle measurements
CRITICAL ANGLE CRITICAL ANGLE PERCENTAGE ERROR
(measured) (calculated)
Data Sheet Fundamental Physics III Lab

6. Index of refraction measurement

Table 6 Apparent Depth Method: Measurement of n.

Apparent depth Thickness (t) Computed Index Accepted value % difference
(d) of refraction (n)
1.5

Table 7 Focal Point Displacement Method: Measurement of n.

Distance (x) Computed Index Accepted value % difference
of refraction (n)
1.5