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    This document summarizes a physics practical experiment on determining the refractive index of Perspex. Key results include: 1) The average refractive index of Perspex was calculated to be 1.486 based on measurements taken. 2) The critical angle of Perspex was determined to be 42.3 degrees. 3) When white light passed through a prism, it dispersed into a rainbow with blue light refracting at the largest angle, confirming Snell's law.

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    This document summarizes a physics practical experiment on determining the refractive index of Perspex. Key results include: 1) The average refractive index of Perspex was calculated to be 1.486 based on measurements taken. 2) The critical angle of Perspex was determined to be 42.3 degrees. 3) When white light passed through a prism, it dispersed into a rainbow with blue light refracting at the largest angle, confirming Snell's law.

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    This document summarizes a physics practical experiment on determining the refractive index of Perspex. Key results include: 1) The average refractive index of Perspex was calculated to be 1.486 based on measurements taken. 2) The critical angle of Perspex was determined to be 42.3 degrees. 3) When white light passed through a prism, it dispersed into a rainbow with blue light refracting at the largest angle, confirming Snell's law.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    19 views4 pages

    Draft Feedback 1

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    This document summarizes a physics practical experiment on determining the refractive index of Perspex. Key results include: 1) The average refractive index of Perspex was calculated to be 1.486 based on measurements taken. 2) The critical angle of Perspex was determined to be 42.3 degrees. 3) When white light passed through a prism, it dispersed into a rainbow with blue light refracting at the largest angle, confirming Snell's law.

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    of 4

    Stage 1 Physics | Kate Sheppard

    Geometric Optics Practical DRAFT


    Group Members: []

    Aim: The aim of this investigation is to estimate the refractive index of Perspex using
    white light, as well as investigating dispersion of white light through a prism.

    Commented [KS1]: You werent estimating, you


    calculated

    Apparatus:

    Materials:

    Light box
    Electricity box
    Single slit card
    Blank white paper
    Protractor
    Ruler
    Pencil

    Variables:

    Independent Variable: Angle of incidence


    Dependent Variable: Angle of refraction

    Procedure:
    1. Place the light box on top of the blank white paper, and insert the narrow single
    slit card at the rear end of the light box (keeping all the windows closed.)
    2. Plug the light box into the electricity box and turn to 12 volts.
    3. Place the trapezoid in front of the ray of light, and adjust until the angle () of
    the emerging ray is as large and clear as possible; and the ray separates into
    colours.
    a) What colour do you see? In What order are they? When the ray separated
    into colours, a rainbow formed which had red on the right, then orange,
    yellow, green, purple then blue on the left.
    b) Which colour is refracted at the largest angle? The blue was refracted at
    the largest angle.
    c) According to Snells Law and the information given about the frequency
    dependence of the index of refraction for acrylic, which colour is predicted
    to refract at the largest angle? The colour blue is predicted to refract at the
    largest angle as it has the highest refraction value.
    4. Without moving the trapezoid, trace around it and mark where the rays are.
    Once done, remove the trapezoid and join the lines to show the exact
    representation on what happened to the light ray when it hit the trapezoid.

    Commented [KS2]: Which is what? And how do you


    find/calculate this?

    Stage 1 Physics | Kate Sheppard


    5. Then work out the angles, and find the refractive index using the formula:
    =
    It is good to do multiple trials, then work out the average to get a more
    accurate result.
    6. Without repositioning the light source, use the filters included in the light box to
    select the three primary colour rays. The coloured rays should enter the
    trapezoid at the same angle that the white ray did. Do the coloured rays
    emerge at the same angle as each other? Why or why not?

    Commented [KS3]: Is this from the task sheet?

    Each member of the group should have their own measurements and diagrams of
    the trapezoid, in which they will measure the angles and determine the refractive
    index.
    Note: As the light boxes windows will be closed; allowing the one slit of white light
    through, the light box will get quite hot therefor do not place anything near the box.
    Once completed the practical, avoid touching as it will be hot, then let the box cool
    down before placing back in its box.

    Commented [KS4]: Good safety consideration

    Results:
    (Diagrams of Perspex taken from Diana, Josh and Lachlans group)

    Angle of Incidence
    (Degrees)
    47
    50
    31

    Angle of Refraction
    (Degrees)
    30
    30
    20

    Refractive Index Value

    Commented [KS5]: Where are your calculations?

    1.463
    1.488
    1.506

    Average Refractive index of Perspex:


    1.463 + 1.463 +1.506 +1.506 + 1.488 + 1.488
    6
    = 1.486

    Commented [KS6]: Why is there two of each refractive


    index value?

    Commented [KS7]: How did you calculate this

    Critical Angle:
    11 = 22
    Perspex x Sin (ic) = Air Sin 90
    1.486 x Sin (ic) = 1.0003 x Sin 90
    Sin (ic) = 1.0003 x Sin90
    1.486
    Sin (ic) = 0.6731
    Critical Angle (ic) = Sin 11 (0.6731)
    = 42.30677754

    Stage 1 Physics | Kate Sheppard


    = 420

    Analysis:
    As a result of this practical, it was found that the Critical Angle of Perspexs is
    420 ; and the Average refractive index is 1.486. To get a more accurate result,
    three different measures of the Perspex were taken, both refraction values of
    the incidence and refraction rays were taken from all diagrams, and all the
    results were added together and divided by the number of results to find the
    average refractive index for Perspexs.
    The smallest angle where total internal reflection occurs is called the critical
    angle, and in Perspex, the actual angle is at roughly 430. Whilst, the actual
    value for the refractive index of Perspex is 1.497. Comparing to the results to
    the ones calculated during this practical, the Critical angle was only 10 off,
    and the refractive index was only 0.011 off the actual critical angle and
    refractive index of Perspexs.
    Percentage Error:

    Commented [KS8]: Good! You should write your other


    calculations like this (or at least a sample)

    Commented [KS9]: This should be with the calculating the


    average refractive index value
    Commented [KS10]: Not quite its the tipping point
    between total internal reflection and refraction but at the
    critical angle it is still refracting
    Commented [KS11]: Researched? Accepted?
    Commented [KS12]: If this value is researched it should
    have a proper value, not roughly
    Commented [KS13]: This should be after the percentage
    error

    Refractive Index
    % =

    # #
    100
    #

    % =

    1.497 1.486
    100
    1.497

    % Error = 0.73480294
    = 0.73% Error
    Critical Angle
    % =

    # #
    100
    #

    % Error =

    43 42
    X 100
    43

    % Error = 2.3255814
    = 2.33% Error

    There are different possibilities as to why the results are not exactly the same as
    the actual ones, and these are the Random and systematic errors. These are
    things which include inaccurate tracing, as it was a little difficult to mark
    exactly where the rays were coming in and out; which would change the
    results. As well as inaccurate readings on the protractor, and the fact that the
    light beams were thicker than the pencil line drewdrawn, the angle would not
    be exact. For a systematic error, if the light box itself was not functioning
    properly and not producing the correct light beam, it would throw off the
    results.

    Commented [KS14]: Good also the protractors and


    rulers

    Stage 1 Physics | Kate Sheppard

    According to Snells law; Because the index of refraction or light varies with
    the frequency of the light, white light that enters the materials, at an angle
    other than 0, will separate into its component colours. This explain how the
    colours had formed when the white light hit the trapezoid during this practical.
    Snells law also explains that the Blue light refracts the most, than the yellow
    light, and finally the red light. Comparing this to the results found in the
    practical, the law was proven correct; as the blue light refracted at the largest
    angle of 40 , the red at the lowest angle of 35 , and the yellow at an angle
    somewhere in between.
    Group results

    Example of what it looked like.


    With the Red light on the left and Blue on
    the right.
    http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/guides/mtr/opt/mch/refr/gifs/more2.gif

    For future practicals, when tracing the diagram; using a pen that is closer to
    the thickness of the light beam would be dependable, as then the angles
    and the calculations to the refractive index and critical angle would be
    closer to that of the real refractive index and critical angle. As well maybe
    putting in more dots to show where the rays are coming in and out, so when
    it is ruled up to make the complete diagram; it will be more accurate.

    Commented [KS15]: Wouldnt the other way around


    work better? IE making the light beam narrower?

    Conclusion:
    The aim of this investigation was to estimate the refractive index of Perspex
    and look at the spreading of white light through a prism, both of the aims
    were fur filled throughout this practical. It was measured that the refractive
    index was 1.486, and from that the critical angle was able to be determined.
    It was also discovered that when white light is shun through a prism; it
    spreads out into a rainbow, with blue being the colour which refracted the
    greatest, confirming Snells law.
    Suggestions:
    -

    Since you have a table, you could consider a graph


    Where are the questions from the analysis section of the practical
    instructions?

    Formatted: List Paragraph, Bulleted + Level: 1 +


    Aligned at: 0.63 cm + Indent at: 1.27 cm
    Formatted: Font: Century Gothic, 12 pt

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