Abbas Jasim, 850384

Ms.Baik
SNC2D0/ Optics Lab
2022-12-17

Refraction Lab

1.1. Variables
1.1.1. Independent Variable
The type of transparent medium (Water, Oil, Corn syrup) into which light was refracted.
1.1.2. Dependent Variable
The resulting angle of refraction in the second medium.
1.1.3. Control Variable
The angle of incidence was held constant to isolate the effect of the type of transparent medium
on the angle of refraction, the size of the semi-circular dish is kept constant to ensure that light
was entering into the second medium at the exact point, the light source was constant through all
three media which kept a constant wavelength avoided discrepancies in results.

1.2. Purpose
This lab aims to find the relationship between the media (Water, Oil, corn syrup) and their
respective angle of refraction.

1.3. Hypothesis
If the optical density of a medium increases, then the angle of refraction of light through that
medium will become more acute at a given angle of incidence.

1.4. Results

Table 1.0: Influence of Media on Angle of Refraction at Various Angles of Incidence

Angle of Incidence

Media 0° 20° 40° 60°

Oil 0° 13° 26° 36°

Water 0° 15° 30° 40°

Corn syrup 0° 12° 22° 35°

1.5. Analysis
Based on the information in Table 1.0, it appears that the angle of refraction decreases as
the optical density of the transparent medium increases. According to the results recorded, water
had the lowest refractive index, since it had the highest angles of refraction out of the three. On
the other hand, Corn syrup had the lowest refraction angles, meaning it has the highest refractive
index. Oil treated close, having the second-lowest angles of refraction; second-highest index of
refraction. Although one similarity which was constant within all three was that if the light was
sun through an angle of 0° the corresponding refracted angle was always 0° no matter the
medium.
Optical theory suggests that the refractive index of a transparent medium determines how
much light will be refracted as it passes through that medium. In general, light is more strongly
refracted as it passes through transparent media with higher refractive indices. This can be
observed in the results of the experiment, where the angle of refraction is smallest for the corn
syrup (which has a higher optical density and a higher refractive index than water or oil) and
least for the water (which has a lower optical density and a lower refractive index than corn
syrup or oil).
One potential improvement for this lab would be to fix the light source and the
transparent medium in place more securely to ensure the variables are isolated. For example, the
light source could be mounted on a stand and the semicircular dish could be secured to the table
with clamps or other restraints. This would help to minimize any margin of movement between
the multiple data collection, which could introduce errors in the measurements of the angles of
incidence and refraction.

1.5.1. N2 Calculations
Water: True Approximate refractive index: 1.33
𝑛1𝑠𝑖𝑛θ1 = 𝑛2𝑠𝑖𝑛θ2
𝑛2 = 𝑛1𝑠𝑖𝑛θ1/𝑠𝑖𝑛θ2
𝑛2 = (1. 0003)𝑠𝑖𝑛60/𝑠𝑖𝑛40
𝑛2 = 1. 347
Oil: True Approximate refractive index: 1.47
𝑛1𝑠𝑖𝑛θ1 = 𝑛2𝑠𝑖𝑛θ2
𝑛2 = 𝑛1𝑠𝑖𝑛θ1/𝑠𝑖𝑛θ2
𝑛2 = (1. 0003)𝑠𝑖𝑛60/𝑠𝑖𝑛36
𝑛2 = 1. 473

Corn Syrup: True Approximate refractive index: 1.517

𝑛1𝑠𝑖𝑛θ1 = 𝑛2𝑠𝑖𝑛θ2
𝑛2 = 𝑛1𝑠𝑖𝑛θ1/𝑠𝑖𝑛θ2
𝑛2 = (1. 0003)𝑠𝑖𝑛60/𝑠𝑖𝑛35
1.6. Conclusion
Findings based on data collected have proven that the higher the optical density of a
medium the lower the refracted angle is, water which holds the lowest optical density did in fact
have the highest refracted angle at 40° (with a corresponding angle of incidence of 60°) while
corn syrup which is the most optically dense had the lowest angle of refraction at 35°(with a
corresponding angle of incidence of 60°) This is consistent with the hypothesis that "If the
optical density of a medium increases, then the angle of refraction of light through that medium
will become more acute at a given angle of incidence." This lab has successfully found the
relationship within the three media (water, oil, corn syrup) and proved the optics theory with a
high degree of effectiveness.