C2 Waves in communication

13. Refractive index

KEY IDEA:Light changes direction as it passes
from one medium to another. Refractive index
tells us how much it changes.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

You
LO1: MUST describe refraction as the change
in direction of light as it passes from one
medium to another due to a change in
velocity.
LO2: SHOULD describe refractive index as
the ratio of velocities in the two mediums.
LO3: COULD calculate refractive indexes
from data on velocities or angles using
Snells law.

Refractive Index
n = refractive index of a material
c = speed of light in a vacuum
v = velocity of light in the material
The refractive index (n) of a material is the ratio of the
speed of light (c) in a vacuum to the velocity of light in
the material (v).
The refractive index of a material is always greater
than 1.
water = 1.33

glass = 1.5

What is refraction?
Refraction is the change of direction a light ray undergoes
when it enters a medium with a different optical density.
Light travels at different
speeds in materials with
different optical densities,
and the change in
direction occurs due to the
change in the speed of the
light.
In a vacuum, light travels at
299,792,458 ms-1.
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Why does refraction occur?

As a light ray enters a
medium that is more
optically dense, it slows
down and bends
towards the normal.
As a light ray enters a
medium that is less optically
dense, it speeds up and
bends away the normal.
In this diagram:

i1

normal
air
glass

r1
i2

normal

r2

i 1 > r1

i 1 = r2

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incident
ray

i2 < r 2
r1 = i2

refracted
ray
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Investigating refraction

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Refractive index
The speed of light in a particular substance is expressed as
the refractive index (n) of that medium.
refractive index
=
of substance (ns)
medium

speed of light in vacuum (c)

speed of light in substance (cs)

speed of light (ms-1)

refractive index (n)

vacuum
air
water

299,792,458
299,702,547
224,900,569

1
1.0003
1.333

glass

198,538,051

1.51

diamond

123,933,393

2.419

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Snells law of refraction

Refractive indices can be used to make predictions about
refraction.
1

normal
medium 1: refractive index = n1
2

medium 2: refractive index = n2

Snells law of refraction states:

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n1sin1 = n2sin2

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Refractive Index (n) from

ray diagrams
The angle of incidence, i,
and the angle of
refraction, r, can be used
to calculate the refractive
index using the equation

ANSWER SHEET

Refraction is the bending of (light/electricity) which

occurs when it enters a different (small/medium).
Light travels at different (speeds/times) in
different media; e.g. it is (faster/slower) in glass
and water than it is in a vacuum.
Media in which light travels slower are said to be
optically (shallow/dense).
It is the changing of speed that causes light to
refract.
When light enters a more optically dense material it
refracts
(towards/away from) the normal. When light exits
a more optically dense material it refracts
(towards/away from) the normal.

Angle of
Incidence
24.0
24.0
24.0
63.0
47.0

Angle of Refractive Material

Refraction
Index
15.7
1.5
Glass/Pers
pex
9.76
2.4
Diamond
18.2
1.3
Water
36.4
1.5
Glass/Pers
pex
29.2
1.5
Glass/Pers
Material
Refractive
pex
Glass
Perspex
Diamond
Water

Index
1.5
1.5
2.4
1.3

3. Using the above equation calculate what

the angle of incidence must have been to
give the following angles of refraction in
glass.
a.23
35.9
b.33
54.8
c.40
74.6
4. A beam of light shines on a diamond
block with an angle of incidence of 15.
Calculate the angle of refraction.
n = 2.4 = sin 15 sin r
so sin r = sin 15 2.4 sin r =
0.259 2.4 = 0.108
sin -1 0.108 =
6.2

Refraction calculations

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