The Law of Reflection and Refraction
Magno, Jana Raiza S.
INPHYS2 A51
jana_magno@dlsu.edu.ph
Abstract - The experiment examined the difference
between Law of Reflection and Law of Refraction
and to further understand the basic principles
through observation. For the reflection
experiment, the results showed that it followed both
parts of the law of reflection. For the refraction
experiment, the results showed that it followed
Snells law of refraction due to a direct relationship
between the angle of incidence and angle of
refraction. Based on these results, these results
exhibited consistency with the theories governing
the two different phenomena.
I. INTRODUCTION
The light travels at 3.00x108 m/s in a vacuum.
Reflection indicates how light propagates through
space on a straight line. The first law of reflection
states that when the incident ray hit a smooth plane
surface, creating an angle called the incidence angle, it
will lie on the same plane as the normal line and its
reflected ray. Thus, the second law of reflection states
that the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection,
the angle created by the reflected ray, is equal [1].
Fig 1. The law of reflection
On the other hand, Refraction presents how light
does not travel in a vacuum and at a different velocity.
When light travels at a different velocity, it does not
follow a straight line and therefore, it bends due to
change in direction. This is commonly known as
Snells Law.
Fig 2. The law of refraction
This phenomenon occurs between two different
mediums due to differences in index of refraction. The
velocity of absorbed light is less than before it entered
the second medium; thus, the denser the medium, the
slower the light travels. This is governed by the
equation:
$
=
%
where: n = index of refraction
v = velocity of the medium
C = speed of light in a vacuum
Thus, the main objective of the experiment is to
examine the difference between Law of Reflection and
Law of Refraction in its simplest form. Also, it is
expected to understand the basic principles better
through observation.
II. METHODOLOGY
The materials used were optics bench as the light
source, a ray table and base-component holder, slit
plate, and slit mask. The single ray of light was aligned
to the normal line on the ray table.
Ray optics mirror was used as the source of
reflected ray while cylindrical lens was used as the
source of refracted ray. The flat surface was aligned
with the line labelled as component on the ray table.
The ray table was rotated corresponding to the angle
of incidence in order to measure the angle of reflection
(or refraction) with respect to the normal line surface.
This was repeated with the incident ray from the
opposite side of normal.
 60 35 37
70 40 40
80 43 43
90 90 90

The results showed two different angles of

refraction between trials 1 and 2. This can be attributed
due to the wide scope of the refracted light which
could touch two different degrees at the same time. It
Fig 4. Reflection equipment set-up [2]
may also have been because the lens was not properly
placed that it did not form a perpendicular angle to the
incident ray when hitting the normal surface [3]. As
the ray table was rotated, the refracted ray becomes
bent due to the curved surface of the lens which creates
an angle that is unparalleled to the incident ray.

Refraction1

5
Fig. 5 Refraction equipment set-up [2]

Angle of incidence
y = 0.8309x + 0.0607
0
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION -2 R = 0.461790 2 4
-5
TABLE I Angle of refraction
REFLECTION USING A RAY OPTICS MIRROR
Angle of Reflection1 Refelction2
Fig. 6 Angle of Refraction1
incidence
0 0 0 Refraction2
10 10 10
20 20 20
5
30 30 30
Angle of incidence

40 40 40 y = 0.5165x -00.2025
-2 R = 0.216870
50 50 50
60 60 60
2 4
-5
70 70 70 Angle of refraction
80 80 80
90 90 90
Fig. 7 Angle of Refraction2
The results showed that in both trials 1 and 2, the
angle of incidence was equal to the angle of reflection. Both graphs are consistent with the Law of
This is in accordance with the Law of Reflection where Refraction since there is a direct relationship between
in any reflected ray of light upon a plane surface, the the angle of incidence and angle of refraction as
angle of incidence and angle of reflection must be indicated in Snells Law.
equal. Another part of the Law of Reflection which
states that the incident ray, the reflected ray, and the IV. CONCLUSION
normally all lie on the same plane were shown in the Based on the aforementioned results, the
experiment by first, aligning the single ray of light on experiment showed the principles behind the law of
the normal line, and observing both incident and reflection and law of refraction. The data gathered
reflected ray on the ray table. exhibited consistency with the theories governing the
two different phenomena. Therefore, the objectives of
TABLE II the experiment were achieved. Personal errors
REFRACTION USING A CYLINDRICAL LENS committed during the experiment can be obliterated by
Angle of Refraction1 Refraction2 setting the equipment properly and reading the
incidence measurements properly.
0 0 0
10 6 8 V. REFERENCES
20 13 14
[1] Wettergreen, Margaret. Lab 9 Reflection,
30 19 20
40 25 26
Refraction and Total Internal Reflection.
50 30 32 Accessed January 15, 2017.
 http://www.academia.edu/9357508/Lab_9_-
_Reflection_Refraction_and_Total_Internal_R
eflection
[2] De La Salle University. Physics Laboratory 2
(compiled experiments in Heat, Electricity &
Magnetism, Optics). Accessed January 13,
2017.
http://www.dlsu.edu.ph/academics/colleges/co
s/physics/experiments.asp
[3] Ruiz, Burhan. Refraction Rays of Cylindrical
Lens. Accessed January 15, 2017.
https://www.scribd.com/doc/134033346/Refra
ction-Rays-of-Cylindrical-Lenses