Properties of Light: Reflection and Refraction

Law of reflection – The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of

reflection.

The angle of incidence is defined as the angle between the incident ray
and the line perpendicular/normal to the surface. The angle of
reflection is defined as the angle between the reflected ray and the
line perpendicular/normal to the surface.

Ɵi = angle of incidence
Ɵr = angle of reflection
 Types of reflection
1) Regular – this happens for a smooth surface. The reflected rays are
parallel. An example is the plane mirror.
2) Diffuse – this happens for a rough surface. The reflected rays have
random directions.
Plane mirror
 REFRACTION
Refraction – the bending of light at the boundary between the media. It is the
change in the direction of travel as light passes from one medium into another.
Speed of light Case 1: V1 > V2
1) gas –greatest
2) liquid V1 = speed of light in the first medium
3) solid –least V2 = speed of light in the 2nd medium
(gas – least dense, Examples: gas to liquid, liquid to solid,
solid – most dense) gas to solid

The refracted ray is bent

towards the normal line
Speed of light Case 2: V1 < V2
1) gas –greatest
2) liquid V1 = speed of light in the first medium
3) solid –least V2 = speed of light in the 2nd medium
Examples: liquid to gas, solid to liquid,
solid to gas
incident ray

The refracted ray is bent

away from the normal line

refracted ray
Index of refraction (n) - it is the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum
(3 x 108 m/s) to the speed of light in the material.
-constant of a material, no unit
n=c
v
Snell’s Law:
n1sin.i = n2sin.r
n = index of refraction
c = 3 x 108 m/s
v = speed of light in the material
n1 = index of refraction of the 1st medium
n2 = index of refraction of the 2nd medium
i = angle of incidence
r = angle of refraction
 Sample Problems
1. Find the index of refraction of a material if the speed
n=c
of light in the material is 196,890 km/s.
v
c = 3 x 108 m/s
v = 196,000 km x 1000 m
S 1 km
n1sin.i = n2sin.r
v = 1.97 x 108 m/s

Asked: n n=c = 3 x 108 m/s

v 1.97 x 108 m/s

n = 1.52
 Sample Problems
n=c 2) A ray of light from air (n=1) shines unto the
v oil (n=1.45) with an angle of incidence of
c = 3 x 108 m/s 40 degrees. Solve for the angle of
n1sin.i = n2sin.r refraction in oil.
n1=1 i = 40 degrees
n2=1.45 r?

n1sini=n2sinr.
n1 i Sinr = n1sini
n2
= (1)(sin 400) )
1.45
= 0.44
n2 r r = sin-1 0.44
r = 26.10 degrees
n=c 3) A light ray in air (n=1) is incident 430 with
v the water surface (n=1.33). Find the angle
c = 3 x 108 m/s of reflection and the angle of refraction.
n1sin.i = n2sin.r n1 = 1 i = 470
n2 = 1.33
angle of incidence = angle of reflection
Incident ray reflected angle of reflection = 47 degrees
n1 i ray n1sin.i = n2 sin.r
470 Sin.r = n1sin.i
430 n2
= (1) sin47
r 1.33
=0.55
n2 r = sin-1 0.55
r = 33.37 degrees
4) A ray of light is propagating in water (n=1.33) and strikes a plate of quartz
(n=1.458). The angle of refraction in the quartz is measured to be
36.7 degrees. What is the angle of incidence?

n1= 1.33 i?
n2= 1.458
r= 36.7 degrees
n1sin.i =n2sin.r
Sin.i = n2sin.r
n1
= (1.458) (sine 36.70)
1.33
=0.66
i = sin-1 0.66
i = 41.30 degrees
5) A beam of light is traveling in air (n=1) and strikes a material. The angles of
incidence and refraction are measured to be 50 degrees and 30.3 degrees
respectively. Obtain the speed of light in the material.
n1 (air) = 1 i =50 degrees v?
n2 (material) ? r = 30.0 degrees

n1sin.i =n2sin.r n=c

n2 = n1sin.i v
sin.r
= (1)(sin 500 ) v = c = 3 x 108 m/s
sin 30.00 n 1.52
= 1.52 v = 1.97 x 108 m/s
 Total Internal Reflection (TIR)
Total Internal Reflection – complete reflection of a ray of light within a
medium such as water or glass from the surrounding surfaces back into
the medium.
 Total Internal Reflection (TIR)
Total Internal Reflection – complete reflection of a ray of light within a
medium such as water or glass from the surrounding surfaces back into
the medium.

2 conditions for total internal reflection to occur:

1) V1 < V2 - the speed of light in the 1st medium is smaller than the
speed of light in the 2nd medium.
a) solid to liquid
b) liquid to gas
c) solid to gas
2) i > Ɵc - the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle.
Critical angle – a certain value of an angle of incidence where the angle of
refraction formed is 90 degrees.
(red incident ray) critical angle Ɵc, angle of refraction is 90 degrees
green incident ray – angle of incidence is less than the critical angle. Light
will go out to the 2nd medium.
Blue incident ray - angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle,
total internal reflection occurs.
sine Ɵc = n2 1) a) what is the critical angle when light travels
n1 from water (n =1.33) to air (n =1)?
b) Suppose a person is holding an underwater
Ɵc = critical angle of flashlight, he is in the water, switch it on, and
incidence strikes on the surface with an angle of
incidence of 50 degrees, will total internal
reflection occur? Support your answer.
n2 = index of refraction of n1 (1st medium, water) = 1.33
the 2nd medium
n2 (2nd medium, air) = 1
sine Ɵc = n2 = 1
n1 = index of refraction of
the 1st medium n1 1.33
= 0.75

Ɵc = sin-1 0.75
Ɵc = 48.59 degrees
b) Suppose a person is holding an underwater flashlight, he is in the water,
switch it on, and strikes on the surface with an angle of incidence of
50 degrees, will total internal reflection occur? Support your answer.

Ɵc = 48.59 degrees

Given : i = 50 degrees

since i > Ɵc, (500 > 48.590 )

-1st condition is satisfied (water to air)

- 2nd condition is satisfied (i > Ɵc )

total internal reflection will occur

2) What is the index of refraction of the solid in air if the critical angle is
40.5 degrees? n (air) = 1

1st medium (solid) n1 = ? Ɵc = 40.5 degrees

2nd medium (air) n2 = 1

sine Ɵc = n2
n1
(n1)(sine Ɵc) = n2
n1 = n2____
sine Ɵc
= 1_____
sine 40.50
n1 = 1.54