Name

Class

Unit 14b - Light (Refraction)

Multiple Choice Questions
11 A ray of red light from a laser passes into a semi-circular glass block.

glass block

What is shown at M?
A dispersion B rarefaction C reflection D refraction

2 A semi-circular block is made from a plastic.

A ray of light passes through it at the angles shown.
To two decimal places, what is the refractive index
of the plastic? 28°
plastic
62°
A 1.25 C 1.51
B 1.41 D 1.61
45°
air
45°

3 The diagram shows light travelling through a medium. The light reaches the boundary with a
vacuum as shown. The light emerges travelling along the surface.

medium
60°

vacuum
What is the refractive index of the medium?
sin 60° sin 60° sin 90° sin 90°
A B C D
sin 30° sin 90° sin 30° sin 60°

4 A ray of light meets the face of a glass block at an angle of 30° as shown.
The refractive index of the glass is 1.5.
What is the angle of refraction r inside the glass block?

A 19° C 35° r glass

block
B 20° D 40°
30°

By Shahzad Zia for Roots International School (Askari XI)

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Unit 14b - Light (Refraction)

5 A ray of light strikes the surface of a glass block at an angle of incidence of 45°.
The refractive index of the glass is 1.8.
What is the angle of refraction inside the block?
A 23° B 25° C 45° D 81°

6 A ray of light in a transparent medium of refractive index 1.8 is incident on the surface as shown.
The light enters air.

air
medium 60°

30°

What is the angle between the refracted ray and the normal in air?
A 29° B 33° C 54° D 64°

7 Light passes from air into a glass block of refractive index 1.5, as shown.
glass block
NOT TO
SCALE

normal 57°

What is the angle of refraction in the glass and what is the critical angle?

angle of refraction critical angle

A 34° 42°
B 34° 60°
C 38° 42°
D 38° 60°

8 Light passes into a glass block.

Which is the angle of refraction?
A
B
D
C

By Shahzad Zia for Roots International School (Askari XI)

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Unit 14b - Light (Refraction)

9 Light passes from air into a block of glass, as shown.

w x
z
y
glass

Which expression is equal to the refractive index of glass?

sin w sin w sin y sin z

A B C D
sin y sin z sin w sin x

10 A ray of light travels from X to Y along an optical fibre. The angle of incidence at Y is greater than
the critical angle.
In which direction does the ray of light travel after reaching point Y?
A

B
optical fibre
Y
C

Theory Questions
11 A lamp is positioned at the bottom of a small pool of water. The critical angle for light passing from
water into air is 49°.

(a) Explain what is meant by the term critical angle.

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...............................................................................................................................................[2]

(b) The lamp sends light towards the surface of the pool.

By Shahzad Zia for Roots International School (Askari XI)

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Unit 14b - Light (Refraction)

Fig. 4.1 shows three rays of light that are at 30°, 60° and 90° to the horizontal.

air
water

60°
90°

30° horizontal

lamp
Fig. 4.1

On Fig. 4.1, draw the path taken by each of the three rays after they strike the surface of the
water. [3]

12 Fig. 5.1 shows a ray of light entering and passing along an optical fibre.

A
air
30°
50°
glass

Fig. 5.1

(a) Calculate the refractive index of the glass in the optical fibre.

refractive index = ...........................................................[2]

(b) Explain why the ray of light is totally internally reflected at A.

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...............................................................................................................................................[2]

By Shahzad Zia for Roots International School (Askari XI)