Refractive Index of a Material

It is the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the

speed of light in a material N= Speed of light in vacuum divided by speed of light in material N(Refractive material the medium
index)

Vacuum
Air

1
1.0003

Crown Glass
Salt

1.52
1.54

Water
Ethyl Alcohol

1.33
1.36

Asphalt
Heavy Flint Glass

1.635
1.65

Fused Quartz
Whale Oil

1.4585
1.460

Diamond
Lead

2.42
2.6

Snells Law

Snells Law can be used to calculate the angles of

refraction using the following formula: n1 * sin1 = n2 * sin 2 However in order to find the angle of refraction we need to use this method 2= sin-1*sin 1*(n1/n2) On TI calculators this would be 2nd Sin A ray of light in air(1) enters a plane of crown glass(1.52) at an angle of 1 = 45o from the surface. What is the angle of refraction? The answer is 28o

Example
n1 * sin1 = n2 * sin 2

1*sin(45) =0.70
Sin-1[sin 45(1/1.52)]= 28

Lesson Task
Talk to your table and make sure every one understands

how to use Snells Law and IF NEEDED review the Reflection and Refraction Chapter 29.8 Complete the Refraction problems sheet and mark your work using the answer sheet

Oral Review
1. The best definition of refraction is ____. a. passing through a boundary c. changing speed at a boundary Answer: D 2. A ray of light in air passes through glass at angle of 30 degrees. If the index of refraction of the glass is 1.65, what is the angle of the refracted ray? b. bouncing off a boundary d. changing direction when crossing a boundary

a. 56 degrees
Answer: D

b. 46 degrees

c. 30. degrees

d. 18 degrees

Works cited
Physics Daily - Physics Encyclopedia and Fact Book.

Web. 31 Aug. 2011. <http://www.physicsdaily.com/>. "Refraction and the Ray Model of Light - Table of Contents." The Physics Classroom. Web. 31 Aug. 2011. <http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/refrn/>. "Refraction of Light." Hyper Physics. Web. 31 Aug. 2011. <http://hyperphysics.phyastr.gsu.edu/hbase/geoopt/refr.html>.