Refraction of

light
 A Trick Question

Ben put a coin in a mug and moved

back so he could not see it. His
friend Martin poured some water into
the cup and suddenly Ben could see
the coin again without moving. Why
could Ben now see the coin?
The light had been refracted by
the water:
 What is refraction?
When light passes from one substance
into another more dense substance it
changes direction.

We call this change of direction the

Refraction of light.

Refraction occurs at the boundary between

the substances. We call this boundary the
INTERFACE.
 Refraction through a glass block:

Wave slows down and bends

towards the normal due to
entering a more dense medium

Wave slows down but is

not bent, due to entering
along the normal

Wave speeds up and bends

away from the normal due to
entering a less dense medium
 Task

Using the equipment provided, draw a

labelled diagram showing refraction.

Equipment
Lab packs Pencils
Ray boxes Ruler
Perspex blocks Protractor
 Conclusion
Look at the lines you have drawn on your paper,
then complete these sentences.
• I noticed that the ray of light is refracted
(away from/towards) the normal when it goes
into a glass block.
• The ray of light is refracted (away
from/towards) the normal when it comes out
of a glass block.
• The ray coming out of the glass block is
(parallel/at right angles) to the ray going into
the block.