Refraction of Light Research Paper

The objectives in my refraction of light research paper is to recognize situations where refraction will occur and to identify which direction light will bend when it passes from one medium to another. Refraction is the bending of light when it travels from one medium to another. It occurs when light's velocity changes. When light passes from a fast medium to a slow medium, the light ray is being bent toward the normal which is the boundary between the two media. However, when it goes from a slow medium to a faster medium the light is being refracted away. They are different speeds of light for every material. Glass, diamonds, water, and air are examples of materials in which light can pass through. Every material is different. Some are more dense than others and this affects the speed. For example, the speed of light in water is less than the speed of light in air and the speed of light in glass is less than the speed of light in water. During refraction, the light wave changes direction. This is because the wavelength decreases as the light enters the medium. Since the light speed changes at the boundary, the wavelength of the light must change, too. An example is when you go from air to glass. On the other hand, the frequency remains the same. It is a characteristic of the source of light and unaffected by medium changes. Objects appear to be in different positions when refraction is present. For instance, if a dog was looking at a fish underwater, it would think that the fish is closer than it actually is. In contrast the fish looking up at the dog would perceive it to be farther away from the water's

Julissa Ortiz

Refraction of Light

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surface than it actually is. However because of the reversibility of refraction both animals see along the same path. When learning about refraction, it is important to also gain knowledge of the index of refraction. The index of refraction is the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of light in a given transparent medium. The speed of light and the index of refraction are inverses of each other. So if air was traveling through glass, the air would have a high speed of light and a low index of refraction, and the glass would have a lower speed of light and a higher index of refraction. You can use the index of refraction to find Snell's law which is formula to determine the angle of refraction. Also, the wavelength affects the index of refraction. Each color has a different wavelength. For example, red has the longest wavelength and purple the shortest wavelength. The amount that light bends when entering a different medium depends on the wavelength of light as well as the speed. For that reason, each color is refracted in a different way. Overall, refraction is an important when learning about light. It can occur almost anywhere. You can see it when light is shining through your bedroom window. Refraction also occurs in eyeglasses and prisms. An easy way for anybody to demonstrate refraction is to place a pencil in a cup of water. The pencil will appear broken due to the fact that it changed mediums. Refraction can be a fun and exciting learning topic for many people.

Julissa Ortiz

Refraction of Light

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Cited Sources Nave, C. R. (n.d.). Refraction of Light. Refraction of Light. Retrieved October 17, 2013, from http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/geoopt/refr.html Serway, R. A., & Faughn, J. S. (2009). Refraction. Holt Physics (pp. 488-492). Austin: Holt, Rinehart, Winston. Changing the Speed of Light. (n.d.). Optics For Kids. Retrieved October 18, 2013, from http://www.optics4kids.org/home/teachersparents/articles/the-refraction-of-light/

Julissa Ortiz

Refraction of Light

1st