Snell’s Law Investigation

Refractive Index is the ratio of the speed of light in a medium

compared to the speed of light in a vacuum.

Refractive Index (n) = speed of light in air / speed of light in

medium

The speed of light in air is 3x108 m/s. This means that the
refractive index of air is always 1.

Snell’s Law describes the relationship between the change in

direction and the refractive index of a material.

n = refractive index
∅ = angle to normal

n1sin∅1= n2sin∅2

You will need to view this video of a ray of light moving through Acrylite.

Stop the video at 6 or 7 points and record the angle of the light in the Acrylite (bottom) and in
the air (top).

Complete the table below:

Angle in Acrylite (∅1) Angle in air (∅2)

20 30

0 1

30 50

40 75

25 40

35 60

Use your data to find the refractive index (n1) of the Acrylite. (Remember: the refractive index
of air is always 1.)

Sin(30)*1=Sin(20)*n
=> sin(30)/sin(20)=n
n=1.46
Find the speed of the light in the Acrylite. (Remember: Refractive Index (n) = speed of light in
air / speed of light in medium)
1.46=3*10^8/n
n=3*10^8/1.46
n=2.05*10^8