Refraction and Total Internal Reflection

Q1.

Light travels into a semicircular glass block as shown in the diagram. The ray of light reaches the straight
edge of the block at an angle of incidence i.
The critical angle for glass is c.

Which one of the following statements is true for light at the straight edge?
A When i is bigger than c then no light is reflected. B When i is bigger
than c then no light is transmitted C When i is smaller than c then no
light is reflected.
D When i is smaller than c then no light is transmitted.

(Total for Question = 1 mark)

Q2.

A ray of monochromatic light passes into a glass block as shown.

The refractive index of the glass for this light is

A 0.57
B 0.81
C 1.22 D 1.74
(Total for question = 1 marks)

Q3.

The refractive index of glass can be found by tracing a ray of light through a block of glass and measuring
angles.
Which of the following expressions is equal to the refractive index of glass?

(Total for Question = 1 mark)

Q4.
(a) You are asked to find the refractive index for light passing from air to glass by tracing the path of a ray
of light through a glass block.

State the measurements you would take, the graph you would plot and how you would use the graph to
determine a value for the refractive index.
(3)
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(Total for Question = 3 marks)

Q5.

Two parallel rays of light, one blue, one red, are travelling in air and are incident on one side of a glass
prism. The blue light passes into the prism and meets the second face at the critical angle as shown in
the diagram.

(a) Add to the diagram the path of the blue light after it meets the second face. Label this path X.
(1) (b) (i) The speed of blue light in the glass prism is 1.96 × 108 m s−1.
Calculate the refractive index of this glass for blue light.
(2)
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Refractive angle = ...........................................................

(ii) Calculate the critical angle for blue light in this glass prism.
(2)
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Critical angle = ...........................................................

(c) The refractive index of this glass for red light is less than for blue light. Add to the diagram to
complete the path of the red light through the prism. Label this path Y.
(2)
(Total for Question = 7 marks)

Q6.
Rainbows are seen when sunlight is dispersed by raindrops. The light is separated into different colours
because they each take different paths through raindrops.
A ray of white light is incident on a raindrop. The diagram shows the subsequent path of the red light.

(a) Name the effect that is experienced by the red light at A.

(1)
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(b) (i) On the diagram label an angle of incidence with an i and an angle of refraction with an r.
(2)
(ii) On the diagram draw the path that a violet ray of light would take, through
the raindrop and into the air.
(2)

(c) (i) State what is meant by the critical angle.

(1)
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(ii) Calculate the critical angle for red light in the raindrop. refractive
index for red light in water = 1.3
(2)
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 Critical angle = ...........................................................

(d) Red light has a frequency of 4.2 × 1014 Hz and travels at a speed of 2.2 × 108 m s−1 in the raindrop.
Calculate the wavelength of the red light in the raindrop.
(2)
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Wavelength = ...........................................................
(Total for Question = 10 mark)