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Rapping The Ight Antastic: Conceptual Physics Activity
Rapping The Ight Antastic: Conceptual Physics Activity
Rapping The Ight Antastic: Conceptual Physics Activity
Discussion
When light passes from one transparent material to another, it undergoes refraction. If the light
crosses the boundary between the materials at an angle, the light changes direction. In this
activity, you will see how the direction changes when light travels from air to water and when
light travels from water to air.
Most optical devices—including glasses, contact lenses, cameras, microscopes, and telescopes—
rely on lenses that refract light in the manner to be explored in Part A of this activity.
The refraction of light as explored in Part B of this activity is employed in fiber optics. Optical
fibers are used in communication and medical technology.
Procedure
PART A: LIGHT BEAM TANK AND REFRACTION BASICS
If you shine a laser beam at a wall on the other side of the room, you will see the dot where the
beam strikes the wall. The light is reflected diffusely and visible from nearly any place in the
room. But the beam from the laser to the wall is not visible. Air is transparent. So the laser beam
passes through the air without being scattered. If smoke or some other tiny particles are added to
the air, the beam becomes visible. The ever-moving particles reflect the light of the beam in all
directions.
Step 2: Shine the laser into water, aim it through the length of the water and record your
observations.
Revised 1/7/08
Step 3: Add a small amount of scattering agent to the water and stir to mix it thoroughly.
Step 4: Shine the laser through the water again and record your observations. What—if anything
is different this time? Describe and explain.
Step 5: Shine the laser beam so that it passes from air to water as shown in figure 1 below.
laser
incident
ray
air
water
Figure 1
The incident ray is labeled in the diagram. Sketch and label the refracted ray (in the water) in
the figure.
air
water
table
laser
Figure 2
air
water
laser
Figure 3
Sketch the result in the figure above and describe it in the space below.
Step 8: Now that you have observed the subcritical and supercritical arrangements, find the
critical arrangement. When the laser beam strikes the water-to-air boundary at the critical angle,
the refracted ray travels along the surface of the water.
Going Further
Step 1: Obtain a clear, 2-liter plastic bottle. Cut off the top of the bottle and put a small, circular
hole in the side of the bottle about five centimeters from the base of the bottle.
2. When light passes from water into air, it does not travel continue on its original path. How
does it bend?