OCR (A) specifications: 5.3.

1a,b,c,d,e,f

Chapter 18
Reflection and refraction
Worksheet
Worked examples
Practical 1: Demonstrating refraction and total internal reflection
Practical 2: Snells law and refractive index
End-of-chapter test
Marking scheme: Worksheet
Marking scheme: End-of-chapter test

Worksheet
Intermediate level
1
2
3
4

State the two laws of reflection.

[2]

Explain what is meant by refraction of light.

[1]

Define refractive index n of a transparent medium.

[1]

The diagram shows rays of light entering two

transparent materials A and B.
45

Explain which material has a greater refractive

index.
[1]

45

air

air

The speed of light in turpentine is 2.03 108 m s1.

a

Calculate the refractive index of turpentine.

[3]

A ray of light in air travels towards the air/turpentine interface. The angle
of incidence is 60. Determine the angle of refraction in the turpentine.

[3]

The refractive index of ruby is 1.76. Calculate the critical angle for ruby.

[3]

Higher level
7

The diagram shows the path of light from a

laser as it passes through a tank of water.
a

Determine the angle of incidence of the

ray of light at the interface XY.
[1]

Calculate the angle . (The refractive

index of water is 1.33.)
[3]

water
N

46

laser light

A section through an optic fibre is shown below.

200 m

input signal

glass

output signal

The fibre is made of a material of refractive index 1.54.

a

Calculate the critical angle for the fibre.

[2]

Calculate the time taken for a ray of light to travel the length of the fibre
when travelling along its axis.

[2]

Explain why the output signal from the fibre is smeared and not as sharp
as the input signal.

[1]

c
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18 Reflection and refraction

Extension
9

The diagram shows white light

incident at one face of a glass prism.

60

The refractive index of the glass is

different for different wavelengths of
visible light.
For blue light the refractive index is
1.521 and for red light the refractive
index is 1.510. Calculate the
divergence angle between the blue
and red light emerging from the
second face of the prism.
[7]

90
70
90

white light

prism
60

red

60
blue

Total: Score: %
30

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163

Worked examples
Example 1
A ray of light enters a block of ice at an angle of incidence of 60. Calculate the angle of
refraction for light in the ice. The refractive index of ice is 1.31.
Snells law: n =
i = 60
1.31 =

sin i
sin r

Remember that this equation is valid

for light travelling from vacuum (or
air) into the material.

r=?
sin 60
,
sin r

sin r =

sin 60
= 0.6611
1.31

r = sin1 (0.6611) 41.4

Example 2
The diagram shows light travelling from water into ice.
90

ice
water

Calculate the critical angle for the water/ice interface.

(Refractive index of ice = 1.31; refractive index of water = 1.33.)

You can use Snells law:

n=

weak reflection

sin i
sin r

but you need to be aware that n is the (absolute) refractive index of the material when
light travels from a vacuum into the material. In this example we need to find the
refractive index n for the water/ice interface for light travelling from ice into water.
Hence:
n=

speed of light in ice

speed of light in water
3.0 108

n=

3.0 10

sin C =

1.31

1.33

1.33
= 1.015
1.31

1
1
=
= 0.9850
n 1.015

therefore C = 80.1

Tip
You can use a useful variation of Snells law. For a ray of light incident on or
refracted at an interface:
n sin (angle) = constant
For the incident light in water, we have: n = 1.33 and

angle = C (the critical angle)

For light refracted into ice, we have:

angle = 90

n = 1.31 and

Hence:
1.33 sin C = 1.31 sin 90
C = sin1 (1.31/1.33) = 80.1

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18 Reflection and refraction

Practical 1
Demonstrating refraction and total internal reflection
Safety
When using a laser pen, do not look directly into the beam. Laser light will permanently
damage your eyes. It is essential to wear laser safety goggles. Also be careful of reflected
laser light. The room does not need to be very dark for this experiment. Teachers and
technicians should follow their school and departmental safety policies and should
ensure that the employers risk assessment has been carried out before undertaking any
practical work.

Apparatus

laser pen (or a ray box and power supply)

large transparent rectangular container
few drops of milk
laser safety goggles

Introduction
In this experiment you have the chance to investigate what happens to the path of light
as it travels from air into water and when it travels in the opposite direction.

Procedure
This experiment is a variation of the one illustrated in figure 18.10 and described on
page 157 of Physics 1.

1
2
3

Fill the container with water.

Add just a few drops of milk into the water and stir well.
When you shine the light into the water, you can see its path in the water. (The
milk in the water scatters the light in all directions.)

Shine the light at different angles and observe the refraction (bending) of light at
the water/air interface.

You should be able to observe total internal reflection with this arrangement.

Guidance for teachers

This experiment is best done as a teacher demonstration. Doing the experiment in a
semi-darkened room ensures that the pupils of the eyes are not fully dilated. You need
about four drops of milk in a litre of water. For your reference, the critical angle for the
water/air interface is about 49.

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Practical 2
Snells law and refractive index
Safety
There are not likely to be any major hazards in carrying out this experiment. However,
teachers and technicians should always refer to the departmental risk assessment before
carrying out any practical work.

Apparatus
ray box
power supply for the ray box
glass or Perspex block

protractor
plain paper

Introduction
In this experiment you will determine the refractive index of glass or Perspex using
Snells law.

Procedure
Snells law is described on page 155
of Physics 1. The diagram shows the
arrangement used to determine the
refractive index of the glass.

ray box

r
glass block

1
2
3
4

Place the glass block on the plain paper and trace out the outline of the block.
Trace out the path of the incident and refracted rays for different angles of incidence.
For each ray, measure the angle of incidence i and the angle of refraction r.
Tabulate your results.

i (degrees)

5
6
7
8

r (degrees)

sin i

sin r

Plot a graph of sin i against sin r. Draw a straight line of best fit through the points.
Determine the gradient of the line.
The gradient of the line is equal to the refractive index of the glass. Explain why.
What is the uncertainty in your answer for the refractive index? How does your
value compare with the accepted value for the refractive index of the glass?

Guidance for teachers

The arrangement above can be used to find the refractive index of water. Use a large
transparent rectangular plastic box filled with water.
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18 Reflection and refraction

End-of-chapter test
Answer all questions.
speed of light in free space (vacuum) c = 3.0 108 m s1

1
2

With the aid of a diagram, define Snells law.

[2]

[2]

Complete the ray diagram below to locate the position of the image.

mirror

object

The image seen by the eye is a virtual (not real) image. Explain what is meant by
a virtual image.
[1]

The critical angle for a particular type of glass is 43.

a
b

Complete the ray diagram to show how the light

emerges from the prism made of this type of glass.

[2]

Calculate the refractive index of the glass.

[3]

45

45

The diagram below shows a step-index fibre optic cable.

cladding

core

cladding

The core is made of glass of refractive index 1.47 and the cladding is made of glass
of refractive index 1.45.
a

Calculate the speed of light in:

i

the core;

[2]

ii

the cladding.

[2]

Calculate the refractive index for light travelling from the cladding to the core. [2]

Use your answer to b to determine the critical angle for the core/cladding
interface.

Explain what is meant by multipath dispersion and state one way of

minimising it.
Total: Score:
20

18 Reflection and refraction

[2]
[2]
%

Cambridge University Press 2005

167

Marking scheme
Worksheet
1

Angle of incidence = angle of reflection (angle measured relative to the normal). [1]
The incident and reflected rays together with the normal lie in the same plane. [1]

Refraction is the bending of light as it travels from one medium into another. [1]

n=

Material A has greater refractive index because the light is deviated more towards
the normal. [1]

speed of light in vacuum

[1]
speed of light in medium

n=

speed in vacuum
[1]
speed in medium

n=

3.00 108
[1];
2.03 108

n=

sini
[1]
sinr

n=

sin 60
sinr

so

n = 1.48 [1]

sin r =

sin 60
= 0.5852 [1]
1.48

r = sin1 (0.5852) = 35.8 [1]

sin C =

1
n

sin C =

1
= 0.5682 [1]; C = 34.6 [1]
1.76

(C = critical angle) [1]

Angle of incidence = 90 46 = 44 [1]

n=

sin i
sin r

1.33 =

sin
[1]
sin 44

sin = 1.33 sin 44 = 0.9239 [1]

= 67.5 [1]

sin C =

1
= 0.6494 [1]
1.54

C = 40.5 [1]
b

Speed in fibre =
Time taken =

168

3.0 108
= 1.948 108 1.95 108 m s1 [1]
1.54

200
= 1.027 106 s 1.03 s [1]
1.948 108

Light that is internally reflected travels a much longer distance than light
travelling along the axis of the fibre. The light from the input pulse exits the
fibre at different times. Hence the output signal is smeared or spread out. [1]

Cambridge University Press 2005

18 Reflection and refraction

Refraction at first face:

blue light

1.521 =

sin 70
; r = 38.16 [1]
sin r

red light

1.510 =

sin 70
; r = 38.49 [1]
sin r

Refraction at second face:

blue light
1.521 =

sin b
sin 21.84

red light
1.510 =

angle of incidence in glass = 60 38.16 = 21.84 [1]

b = 34.46 [1]

angle of incidence in glass = 60 38.49 = 21.51 [1]

sin r
sin 28.51

r = 33.62 [1]

= b r = 34.46 33.62 = 0.84 [1]

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Marking scheme
End-of-chapter test
1

Correct diagram with labels. [1]

i
vacuum
medium
r

Refractive index =

sini
, where i = angle of incidence and r = angle of refraction [1]
sin r
image

Two correct rays shown. [1]

Image located correctly. [1]

The image cannot be formed on a screen,

since no light rays reach this point. [1]

mirror

object

Correct total internal reflection at

each face. [1]
Correct path of ray. [1]

1
sin C = (C = critical angle) [1]
n
n=

1
[1];
sin 43

n=

c
v

v=

n 1.47 [1]

i >C
total internal
reflection

45
45
45

45

ray turned through 180

3.0 108
[1]
1.47

v = 2.041 108 m s1 2.04 108 m s1 [1]

ii

n=

c
v

v=

3.0 108
[1]
1.45

v = 2.069 108 m s1 2.07 108 m s1 [1]

2.069 108
[1];
2.041 108

n=

sin C =

n = 1.014 1.01 [1]

1
= 0.9862 [1]
1.014

C 80.5 [1]
d

Rays of light take different times to travel the length of the optic fibre. The rays
travelling along the axis of the fibre take less time than the rays that are totally
internally reflected. This leads to the signal being smeared. [1]
Multipath dispersion can be minimised by using a monomode cable. [1]

170

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