Aim

To determine the relationship between the refractive index and frequency of light of a glass block.

Hypothesis:

The refractive index varies slightly with the frequency of light.

Apparatus

Rectangular glass block, six different colour light filters, (each filter is labeled stating the frequency of light which will pass
through it) 4 opital pins, a sheet of paper , a protractor, a measuring rule, and a pencil.

Diagram
Method

1. Place the glass plate in the center of the paper and trace its outline in pencil.
2. Using the protractor draw a slanted line 30 degress to the top edge of the glass outline.
3. Place 2 straight pins into the paper along the 30 degrees line .
4. Replace the glass block on the paper in the exact position marked previously.
5. Place a filter on the edge of the glass block between the second pin and the glass block.
6. Look from the other end of the glass block and sight the base of the pins through the glass .
7. Place the other 2 pins in line with the sightings on the other side of the glass block.
8. Remove the glass and draw a straight line connecting the points of pins on the bottom edge of the glass.
9. Connect the points where the line touches the top edge of the glass outline to the point where it touches the bottom
edge of the glass outline.
10. Draw a normal at the point where the line enters the glass outline and where it leaves it.
11. Using the protractor measure the angle of refraction.
12. Repeat the experiment using the six different light filters.
13. Calculate the refractive index for the 6 filters used.
14. Tabulate the results and draw a graph of frequency vs refractive index.

Variables:

Controlled; Angle of incidence, mediums (air /glass)

Manipulated; The colour of light passing rough the glass block

Responded; The angle of refraction

Expected results:

Light Filter Frequency of light (Hz) Angle of incidence (i) Angle of refraction (r) Refractive index (sin i/sin r )
1
2
3
4
5
6

Discussion:

The speed of light while passing through different medium changes and a measurement of the change in this speed is called the
refractive index. The refractive index for air to glass interface can be written as : n = sin i/ sin r where i, is the angle of incidence
and r is the angle of refraction. If white light is passed through a red light filter the filter will block all the other six colors which
make up white light and only allow the red light to pass through. Therefore by filtering the various colors of light one can find
the refractive index of glass using various colors of light. This phenomenon can be used to determine how the refractive index
varies with the different colours of light each of which has a slightly different frequency.

Precautions:

Caution must be exercise when sticking the pins into the paper so that the sharp point does not prick your finger. The glass
block must also be handled with care so as not to drop it or knock it against any hard objects or it else it can be shattered or
chipped.
Sources of error;

Parallax error when reading the protractor and sighting the pins through the glass block.

Conclusion:

Refractive index varies with frequency.