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PHYSICS · OPTICS

Refraction of Light

Explore how light changes direction when it travels between materials with different refractive indices.

1. Experiment controls

n₁ sin θ₁ = n₂ sin θ₂

Angles are measured from the normal, the imaginary line perpendicular to the boundary.

2. Interactive ray diagram

Medium 1 Medium 2 Normal Incident ray Refracted ray Total internal reflection
Light enters the second medium.
Angle of incidence40°
Angle of refraction25.4°
Critical angleNot applicable
Refracted rayPresent

3. Procedure

  1. Set the refractive indices of both media.
  2. Change the angle of incidence.
  3. Observe the direction of the refracted ray.
  4. Record the incident and refracted angles.
  5. Try light travelling from a higher-index medium to a lower-index medium.

4. Discover

  • Does light bend towards or away from the normal?
  • What happens when both refractive indices are equal?
  • When does total internal reflection occur?

This is an ideal ray model. Real materials may absorb, scatter, or reflect some light at the boundary.

5. Observation table

#n₁n₂IncidenceRefractionResult
Adjust the controls and record an observation.