Stage 1 Physics

Geometric Optics Experiment

Aim: To find approximation of the refractive index of Perspex using white light, also to
explore dispersion of white light through a prism.

Apparatus:

Light box

Material

Light Box
Electricity box
Single slit card
Protractor
Ruler
White Paper
Pencil
Trapezium

Variables

Independent Variables
Angle of incidence

Dependent Variables
Angle of refraction

Stage 1 Physics

Procedure
1. Connect the light box with the electricity box in the plug. Placing it on the table
and a white paper in front where the light is shinning.
2. Insert the single slit card at the back end of the light box making sure the rest of
the slits are closed.
3. Turn the electricity box power on and go to 12 volts.
4. Place the trapezoid or any other shape used in front of the ray of light, and correct
until the angle of the emerging ray so it 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 are shown into colours, a rainbow is showed which had
red on the right, then orange, yellow, green, purple then blue
finish off the rainbow on the left.
b) Which colour is refracted at the largest angle? The red
and blue were refracted at the largest angles.
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?
Blue is predicted to be refracting as the largest angle as it
has the highest refraction value found.
5. Exclusive of 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 image on what happened to the light ray
when it hit the trapezoid.
6. Then work out the angles, and find the refractive index using the
formula:
Sin n1 Sin n2
It is good to do as many trials but three is enough then work out
the average to get a more accurate result.
7. Without shifting the light source, use the filters included in the
light box to select the three primary colour rays. The rays should
enter the trapezoid at the same angle that the white ray did.
Results:
Angle of Incidence
(Degrees)
37
22
51

Angle of Refraction
(Degrees)
30
16
24

Refractive Index
Value
1.207
1.363
1.916

Stage 1 Physics

Explain how you calculated the Refractive indices.

Average Refractive index of Perspex:
1.207 + 1.363 + 1.916
3
= 1.496
Critical Angle:
Sin 1n 1=Sin 2 n2
Perspex x Sin (ic) = Air Sin 90o
1.496 x Sin (ic) = 1.0003 x Sin 90
Sin (ic) = 1.0003 x Sin90
1.496
Sin (ic) = 0.597*
Critical Angle (ic) = Sin 11 (0.6731)
= 36.655
= After the calculation the degree read was 370
Analysis:
In result of this practical, it was found that the Critical Angle of Perspexs is 370 ; and
the average refractive index is 1.496.
For making sure our results were accurate or to get more accurate it is best to have 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 overall inner reflection occurs is called the critical angle, and in
Perspex, the actual angle is at roughly 3 70 this is the results of my measurements but
other groups could be different. the value for the refractive index of Perspex is 1.496.
Comparing the acute angle with other groups it was about 10 off.
There could be many different possibilities to why the results are not the same as the
possible one, and this is because of the Random and systematic errors. It could be from
imprecise tracing, as it was hard to mark where the rays came from as it was in the dark.
Inaccurate analyses from reading the protractor, and the light beams were heavier than the
pencil line drew, making that the angle would not correct.
Systematic errors are possibly would be, the light box itself was not operative well and
not constructing the correct light beam, it would completely change the results.

Stage 1 Physics

Conclusion:
The purpose of this practical was to find the refractive index of Perspex and observe the
white light through different shapes. It was measured that the refractive index was 1.496.
Through the practical everyone observed and learnt that when white light is reflected
through a prism it opens into a rainbow with red being on the right and blue being on the
left.

Suggestions
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Where are the questions from the analysis section of the practical instructions
You need to explain the maths you are doing