Refractive index

1. A light ray moves from water (n = 1.33) to a transparent plastic

(polystyrene n = 1.59). Will the light ray bend toward or away from the
normal?
2. A light ray moves from sapphire (n = 1.77) to air (n = 1.0001). Does the
light ray bend toward or away from the normal?
3. Which light ray will be bent more, one moving from diamond (n = 2.42) to
water (n = 1.33), or a ray moving from sapphire (n = 1.77) to air (n =
1.0001)?
4. The diagrams show light traveling from water (A) into another material (B).
Label material B for each diagram as: helium (n=1.00004), water (n=1.33),
emerald (n=1.58), or cubic zirconia (n = 2.17) using the values of refractive
index given in brackets.

5. Light travelling in a vacuum is incident on several media with an angle

between the normal and the incident ray of 30.0. Use the information in the
table below to work out the refractive index of the different media and the
speed of light inside each medium
Medium
10% glucose solution in
water
20% glucose solution in

Angle of refraction
/
21.8
21.5

Refractive
index

Speed of light /
ms-1

water
60% glucose solution in
water
Titanium dioxide
Diamond

20.3
11.0
11.9

6. Use the refractive indices of the following materials to work out the
missing angles in the table.
Medium
Water
Emerald
Cubic zirconia
Ethanol
Sodium chloride

Refractive
index
1.33
1.58
2.17
1.37
1.54

Angle of
incidence /
40

Angle of
refraction /
30

25
10
60

7. (a) Take measurements with a protractor to work out the refractive index
going from air into the glass block below.

(b) Take measurements to work out the refractive index going from the glass
block into air.

(c) What is the relationship between these two values?

(d) If light travels at 3x108 ms-1 in air, what is its speed in the glass block?