PHYS 2202 LAB: Physics II

Week 11
Reflection and Refraction-ONLINE VERSION ADDENDUM
by
[Insert Student’s Name]

Due Date:
Objective
The main objective of this lab is to calculate and measure the angle of refractions
and critical angles for various interfaces. The other objective of this lab is to find the
refractive index for unknown interfaces and glass prism.
Data Analysis
Air-Water Interface
Angle of Angle of Theoretical Velocity
Incidence Refraction Angle of (c)
(degrees) (degrees) Refraction
(degrees)
20 14.9 14.86 0.75
30 22 22.02 0.75
40 28.8 28.82 0.75
50 35.1 35.07 0.75
Air-Glass Interface
20 17.8 17.82 0.67c
30 26.4 26.42 0.67c
40 34.9 34.92 0.67c
50 42.9 42.92 0.67c
Water-Glass Interface
20 17.8 17.82 0.5c
30 26.4 26.42 0.5c
40 34.9 34.92 0.5c
50 42.9 42.92 0.5c

n1 sin θ1=n 2 sin θ2

n1=1, n2 =1.333, θ1=20o

θ2=sin−1
( n1
n2 )
sin θ1 =sin−1 (
1
1.333 )
sin 20o =14.86o

n1=1, n2 =1.5, θ1=20o

θ2=sin−1
( n1
n2 )
sin θ1 =sin−1
1
(
1.5 )
sin 20o =13.22o

n1=1.333, n2 =1.5, θ1=20o

θ2=sin
−1
( n1
n2 )
sin θ1 =sin (
−1 1.333
1.5
o
)
sin 20 =17.82
o

n1=1, n2 =1.333, θ1=30o

 θ2=sin
−1
( n1
n2 )
sin θ1 =sin
−1
( 1
1.333
o
)
sin 30 =22.02
o

n1=1, n2 =1.5, θ1=30o

θ2=sin
−1
( n1
n2 )
sin θ1 =sin (
−1 1
1.5 )o
sin 30 =19.52
o

n1=1.333, n2 =1.5, θ1=30o

θ2=sin
−1
( n1
n2 )
sin θ1 =sin (
−1 1.333
1.5
o
)
sin 30 =26.42
o

n1=1, n2 =1.333, θ1=40o

θ2=sin
−1
( n1
n2 )
sin θ1 =sin
−1
( 1
1.333
o
)
sin 40 =28.82
o

n1=1, n2 =1.5, θ1=40o

θ2=sin−1
( n1
n2 )
sin θ1 =sin−1 (
1
1.5 )
sin 40 o =25.42o

n1=1.333, n2 =1.5, θ1=40o

θ2=sin−1
( n1
n2 )
sin θ1 =sin−1 (
1.333
1.5 )
sin 40o =34.92 o

n1=1, n2 =1.333, θ1=50 o

θ2=sin
−1
( n1
n2 )
sin θ1 =sin
−1
( 1
1.333
o
)
sin 50 =35.07
o

n1=1, n2 =1.5, θ1=50 o

θ2=sin−1
( n1
n2 )
sin θ1 =sin−1 (
1
1.5 )
sin 50o =30.72o

n1=1.333, n2 =1.5, θ1=50 o

θ2=sin
−1
( n1
n2 )
sin θ1 =sin (
−1 1.333
1.5
o
)
sin 50 =42.92
o

c 1c
v= = =0.75 c
n 1.333
c 1c
v= = =0.67 c
n 1.5
c 0.75 c
v= = =0.5 c
n 1.5
 Air-MysteryA interface
Angle of Angle of sinθ1 sinθ2 Velocity
Incidence Refraction
(degrees) (degrees)
20 8.1 0.34 0.14 0.41c
30 11.9 0.5 0.21 0.41c
40 15.4 0.64 0.26 0.41c
50 18.5 0.76 0.32 0.41c
60 21.0 0.86 0.35 0.41c
70 22.9 0.93 0.38 0.41c
Air-MysteryB interface
20 14.2 0.34 0.245 0.71c
30 20.9 0.5 0.356 0.71c
40 27.4 0.64 0.46 0.71c
50 33.2 0.76 0.547 0.71c
60 38.2 0.86 0.618 0.71c
70 42.2 0.93 0.671 0.71c

Slope = 0.4057 = sinθ1/sinθ2 = n. So, the refractive index of MysteryA is around 2.44.
Slope = 0.723 = sinθ1/sinθ2 = n. So, the refractive index of MysteryB is around 1.38.

Angle of Incidence Angle of Refraction Angle of Reflection

(degrees) (degrees) (degrees)
45 70.3 45
47 76.9 47
49 - 49
50 - 50

Angle of Incidence Angle of Refraction Angle of Reflection

(degrees) (degrees) (degrees)
48.5 87.2 48.5
48.55 87.3 48.55
48.60 - 48.6
48.65 - 48.65

n1=1.333, n2 =1

−1
θc =sin ( )
n2
n1
=sin
−1
( 1
1.333)=48.6
o

n1=1.5, n2 =1

−1
θc =sin
( )
n2
n1
=sin
−1
( )
1
1.5
=41.8
o

n1=1.5, n2 =1.333
 −1
θc =sin
( )
n2
n1
=sin (
−1 1.333
1.5 )=62.7
o

Questions
1. The speed for Air-Water interface is 0.75 c because the speed of light is less in
water due to its high refractive index as compared to air. The speed for Air-
Glass interface is 0. 67 c because the speed of light is less in glass due to its
high refractive index as compared to air. The speed for Water-Glass interface
is 0.5 c because the speed of light is less in glass due to its high refractive
index as compared to water.
2. sinθ1 should be on x-axis and sinθ2 should be on y-axis.
3. The light ray gets refracted for angles 45 degrees and 47 degrees. The ray
gets reflected for 49 degrees and 50 degrees because the angle of incidence
is greater than the critical angle. The ray gets refracted for angles 48.5
degrees and 48.55 degrees. Total internal reflection occurs for angles greater
than 48.55 degrees because the angle of incidence is greater than the critical
angle.

Conclusion
We performed this lab to calculate and measure the angle of refractions and critical
angles for various interfaces as well as to find the refractive index for unknown
interfaces and glass prism. All the experimental data and calculation results are
recorded in the data analysis portion of the lab report in the tabular form. The
necessary graphs are also included in the report. It was observed that total internal
reflection occurs for angles greater than 48.55 degrees because the angle of
incidence becomes greater than the critical angle for Water-Air Interface. The
theoretical critical angle was found to be 48.6. So, the results are verified.