PHYSICS ASSESSMENT TASK :

ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES
Aim: To calculate, measure and graph the angle of incidence and refraction for light
when it passes through air to glass/Perspex and to determine the refractive index of
the Perspex/glass and gradient of the graph.
Equipment:

1 Clear Paper
1 Transformer
1 Glass block
1 Single Slit
1 Light Box- Lamp
Pen,Pencil, Eraser
Ruler
Protractor
Power Socket

Method:
1) A white sheet of A4 paper is placed in a landscape form on a flat laboratory
table.
2) The Perspex/glass prism is placed landscape on the centre of the paper.
3) An outline of the rectangular Perspex prism is traced on the paper using
pencil.
4) The light ray box was connected to a 12 volt DC transformer which is
connected to a power source.
5) A four slit slot is inserted at the light source to produce 4 different rays.
6) The laboratory ceiling lights are then switched off.
7) A normal is drawn perpendicular to the surface of the glass/Perspex and the
glass is removed from the paper.
8) A protractor is placed in line with the normal, and four incident angles are
traced and marked with a ruler and pencil.
9) The Perspex/glass is placed back in its original outlined position and the light
ray box is switched on with a voltage of 12.
10)
The angular orientation of the light box is adjusted accordingly to the
marked angles.
11)
The trail of the four light paths are then observed from the top view
and marked which are labelled as the refracted angles.
12)
The light is source is switched off, the Perspex/glass is removed and
the overhead lights were switched on.
13)
The lights rays are produced when the incident and refracted rays are
joined together using a ruler and pencil.
14)
The angle of refraction is measured with a protractor which is placed in
line with the normal.

15)
The 4 angles of incidence and refraction are tabulated and the
refractive index is calculated using the snells law : sin (i) / sin (r) = n2 / n1
(assumption : that n1 is air and the refractive index of air is 1)
Results table:
Angle of
incidence (i)

Sin (i)

Angle of
refraction (r)

Sin (r)

20
40
60
80

0.34
0.64
0.87
0.98

15
24
34
42

0.12
0.41
0.56
0.67

Diagram and graph:

Refractive
index of
glass/perspex

Analysis: The angle of incidence vs angle of refraction has a gradient of the line of
best fit 0.625 so the theoretical absolute refractive index of glass/perspex is 1.49.
According to the data collected, the outcomes and results all reached a refractive
index of almost 1.49 when light travels through a glass/Perspex. Snells law gives
the relationship between angles of incidence and refraction for a wave impinging on
an interface between two media with similar indices of refractions. Comparing
results.it can be seen.that the values for the absolute refractive index of glass is
approximately 1.49, which is theoretically the refractive index value of glass/
Perspex. These values were obtained by recording the points at which the light ray
bent, from air into glass. From the results, sin(i)/ sin (r) and calculated, the mean of
individual ratios are taken and the n2 is determined. A graph of sin(i) vs sin (r) is
drawn, the gradient of sin (i) reveals the value of n2 (refractive index of glass). The
gradient of the graph of sin (r) vs sin (i) reveals the same value as the others.
Reliability:
If the points of the graph are perfectly aligned. The experiment could be considered
reliable; it refers to the condition that similar results could be produced if the
number of observations are increased.
Accuracy:
The accuracy of calculated result is 90% which means the calculated results are
close to the theoretical value. In addition, the experimental procedure supports the
theoretical concept of measuring the refractive index of glass. So, under this
experimental condition, it can be considered that the experiment is accurate.
However, the accuracy of the experiment could be improved by using better and
more advanced technological equipments such as using a thinner and powerful
beam of light.
The results obtained were as accurate as possible, and covered a diverse range of
angles, from 0 to 80 degrees.
Errors:

Experimental error such as parallax error.

Angle measurement error due to protractor, only measuring to an accuracy of
1 degree, which may cause inaccurate results.
Thick beam coming out from glass, making it difficult to mark an accurate
point for the refractive angle.
Calculation of sin of angle and n2 because of its approximation of calculation.
Thick refractive light ray may have caused a difference of almost 3 degrees.
3 plotting point in a graph might cause slight displacement that contributed
to the deviation of results.

Improvements to be made:

Better lighting box (with better slot geometry)

More time to do experiments for better average results.
More accurate angular measurements using better technology rather than
measuring to 1 degree.
Ensuring correct temperature according to SI. (heat of light source effects the
density).
Use pristine block of glass with no scratches or dents on it.
Bringing the light box closer.
Increasing number of trials will produce a better average in the result.
Bring the light ray closer to the glass, so a more cleat beam of light could be
seen.

Conclusion:
The refractive index of glass was determined by observing the passage of light
through air/glass to glass/air and the refractive index of glass (n2) was
calculated by using the Snells law. The absolute refractive index of glass was
proven to be 1.50 although there were slight alterations in the results. Also, the
investigation proved that Snells law is correct and that when light passes
through medium that is denser, it bends (refraction). Also, the gradient, of any
graph plotted for sin(i) over sin(r), resulted in constant hence the refractive
index.