Introduction:

Lasers

A laser (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) is an object capable of producing an incredible beam of monochromatic light (single colour or wavelength) that is capable of traveling kilometers in dark conditions. This laser light is also able to travel through various transparent and translucent materials. This amazing feat is called refraction and occurs in everyday life. A once famous man created a formula to express to what degree light is refracted by certain substances. Its quite a simple equation that says when the refractive index of a material is multiplied the sine of the angle of incidence the answer obtained will equal the refractive index of a second material multiplied by the sin of the angle of refraction. Or,

Where is the angle of incidence measured from the normal and measured from the same.

is the angle of refraction

Aim: To investigate the refractive properties of differently shaped transparent materials. Hypothesis: It is expected that the laser light that passes through the glass prism will be
bent or refracted the most.

Independent variable: The substance or material which the laser light is aimed at. Dependant variable: The angles of refraction and incidence. Constant variables:
Temperature of the piece of graph paper Wind speed and direction Distance of materials or substances from laser generator Type, brand etc of laser pointer

Materials:
1mw green laser Transparent glass rectangular prism Rectangular prism (perspex)

Triangular prism (perspex) semicircular prism (perspex) Plastic cup (small) light prism Graph paper Digital camera

Method:
1. Place a piece of graph paper upon a clean, dry surface, this will act as the testing surface 2. Place the material or object being tested upon the graph paper, centrally located 3. Darken the room as much as possible 4. (optional): create a mount that holds the laser just above the surface of the paper 5. Turn on the laser making sure to avoid peoples eyes at all costs and trace the path of the laser light as it travels through the various materials and substances 6. Calculate the refractive indices

Results:
Material: Diagram of Lights path: Refractive Index calculations: Appearance of light after refraction/Observatio ns:

Medium perspex triangle Large perspex triangle Perspex small triangle Glass rectangle Perspex rectangle small biconvex lens Semi Circular perspex block Large biconvex lens biconcave lens Graph of refractive indices?/angles of refraction?/dispersion of light?

Discussion: Conclusion: