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Tariq Ali Takim

Mr. Zachary Strother

10B Science

30th October 2018

How does the thickness of a lens affect the angle of refraction?

For this Crit B task, an individual must create a question based on the topic of reflection,

diffraction or refraction that can be tested through a method designed by them. Before we begin

looking at the question selected, let us gain a better understanding of reflection, diffraction, and

refraction. When waves travel through mediums, they will either reflect, diffract or refract

depending on the size and surface of that medium. When light rays reflect off a surface, they

change direction and move from one transparent medium to another or travel through a medium

whose composition is continuously changing ​(Stark).​ When reflection occurs on a smooth

surface, the angle of the reflected ray is equal to the angle of the incident ray ​(Stark).​ Different

surfaces will react differently with light depending on how translucent the surface is. If you visit a

mirror maze, for example, we constantly see our reflection in all the mirrors as the light waves

are bouncing off all of the reflective surfaces (mirrors) creating the images of us. Diffraction is

the spreading of waves around an obstacle. When lights are diffracted the sharp shadow is not

produced rather the shadow becomes more blurry ​(The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica).

For instance, if we take a light and aim it at the edge of an object, it will not continue in a straight

line. The edge point that the light hits acts as a second wave source and as a result bends

some of the lightwaves ​(The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica).

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The question we shall be investigating into is based on the topic of refraction. A perfect

example of refraction would be a optical illusion. Optical illusions make our brain believe that we

see something but the angle of refraction is tricking us as that object/thing as actually positioned

elsewhere. Below is a visual representation of a man spear hunting a fish but is actually looking

at a optical illusion. The medium in this scenario is going to be the lens and the light source

shall be a laser. During refraction, a light travels through one transparent medium and

encounters with a second medium ​(Stark).​ As the light moves towards the second medium, it

changes its direction of travel. The law of refraction, also identified as Snell’s law describes the

relationship between the angle of incidence and the angle of refraction ​(Stark). ​The index of

refraction for a medium is equal to the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of

light in a medium ​(Stark).​ The angle of incidents will have direct control over the angle of

refraction as the angle of incidence is determining the angle in which the laser hits the lens

(Stark).​ Our objective is to identify the relationship that the thickness of the lens has with the

refraction of the light. The images below shows a basic representation of the light waves

traveling

through

the

mediums.
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Optical Illusion caused by refraction

“(Admin).”

I presume that the thickness of the lens

will have an effect on the angle at which

the light refracts. If the rays of light travel

parallel to the principal axes/center of the

lens then upon reaching the lens, the ray of lights will have more bending power ​(Johnson).

Once the light ray hits the lens, it refracts until it reaches the back face of the lens ​(Johnson).

Considering that the lenses will be converging, any incident ray traveling through the focal point

on the way to the lens will refract through the lens and travel parallel to the principal axis ​(The

Physics Classroom).​ As a ray of light enters a lense it is refracted and as it exists it is refracted

again so they byproduct of this refraction is a change in direction of the light ​(The Physics

Classroom). This allows me to assume that if the lens is thicker the light wave travels a further

distance in the lens making the refraction larger.

To test this hypothesis, we can conduct an experiment that allows us to determine the

size of the angle of refraction for lenses of different thickness. When measuring the angle of

refraction, we will need to put a paper underneath the lens so the shadow of the refraction casts

upon the paper otherwise we will not be able to observe the angle of refraction. Below is an

image providing a visual reference to how we shall be measuring the angle of refraction.
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Controlled Variables:

Controlled Variable How will it be controlled? Why does it need to be

controlled?

Angle of incidence The angle that the laser hits This must be controlled in

the lens shall remain the order to ensure that each test

same for all of the lenses. is fair otherwise any slight

change in the angle of

incident could have an effect

on the angle of refraction.

Laser The same laser shall be used Some lasers are stronger

throughout the entire than others so it’s best to

experiment to prevent any maintain the same laser

flaws and outliers in the data. beam throughout the test so

that all the trials are getting

the same laser strength going

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through the lenses.

Lens surface The thickness of the lens will The surface of the lens can

change however we will still affect how the light travels

be using the same type of through it so it needs to

lens in terms of material. remain the same otherwise

many of the trials will have

lenses that react differently

with the laser.

Protractor The exact same protractor Different protractors can differ

needs to be used to measure each other by a few degrees

the angle of refraction in so it’s important that the

order to be as accurate as same one is in use

possible. throughout the experiment so

that the data can be as

accurate as possible.

The position of the lens The lens will be untouched The lens is very delicate and

and remain in the same any slight shift could also

position for the entire affect the angle of refraction

experimental process. so it’s vital that this stays

controlled.

Weather condition The test needs to be The temperature could affect

conducted where there is a the angle of refraction as the

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stable wind condition. light first travels through the

air so it’s best to do this in a

controlled environment with a

stable amount of wind/air.

Apparatus:

- Laser

- 4 lenses that contain different thicknesses (eg: 2mm, 3mm, 4mm, 5mm thick)

- A-4 Paper

- Pencil/Pen

- Protractor
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Method: (The lens shown in the images will not look like this, I have just drawn them like this to

give a better visual representation)

1. Set up the station as shown in the image below

2. Ensure that the angle that the laser is hitting the lens remains the same for all 4 lenses

(eg: 30°)

3. Turn on the laser and observe where it comes out from on the other end of the lens
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4. Take your pencil and draw a line over the laser lines connecting to the lens on your

paper

5. Now make a line inside the lens drawing connecting the two lines on the outside
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6. Now that you’ve drawn all of this on your paper, take your protractor and measure the

angle of refraction formed in the inside of the lens.

7. Record the angle of refraction found in the data table and repeat the process another 3 times

for that lens.

8. Repeat steps 1-7 with the other 3 thicker lenses

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9. Fully fill out the data table and begin constructing graphs and analyzing the results.

Tip: If further clarification and assistance are needed the following link could help provide a

better understanding of what to do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Zk4ZWa9dVM

Data Table Example: (A, B, C, D represents the different lense thicknesses)

Angle of refraction for lenses of different thicknesses:

Lens Trial 1 Angle Trial 2 Angle Trial 3 Angle Trial 4 Angle Average

Thickness of Refraction of Refraction of Refraction of Refraction Angle of

(mm) (Degrees) (Degrees) (Degrees) (Degrees) Refraction

(Degrees)

B
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Graph: The graph will be based on the lens thickness and the average angle of refraction

(degrees). The X-axis shall state the thickness of the lens (A, B, C, D) and the Y-axis will show

the average angle of refraction found from the 4 trials.

Analysis: Analyze whether the hypothesis is correct or incorrect and show scientific reasoning

towards your answer. Suggest possible flaws in the experiment that can be taken into account

for next time. Suggest any final observations that you made when looking at the graph and data

table.

Safety Precautions:

1. The lens is glass so becareful with it and try not to drop it as this could risk injuries.

2. Avoid pointing the laser directly at an individuals eye as this could be dangerous and

could cause long-term damage to their eyes.

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3. Ensure that your workspace is clean to reduce the spreading of bacteria and/or

sicknesses.

Works Cited

Admin. "What Are Some Examples of Refraction of Light?" ​Physicabouts.com​, 4 Mar. 2018,

physicsabout.com/refraction-of-light/. Accessed 30 Oct. 2018.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. "Diffraction." ​Encyclopedia Britannica​, 14 Apr. 2014,

www.britannica.com/science/diffraction. Accessed 30 Oct. 2018.

Johnson, Lee. "How Does Lens Thickness Affect Focal Length?" ​Sciencing,​ Leaf Group, 4 June 2018,

sciencing.com/lens-thickness-affect-focal-length-12046893.html. Accessed 30 Oct. 2018.

"Measuring the Angle of Refraction." ​YouTube,​ uploaded by Pascal Warnant, 16 July 2012,

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Zk4ZWa9dVM. Accessed 30 Oct. 2018.

The Physics Classroom. "Refraction by Lenses." ​The Physics Classroom​, Physics Classroom,

www.physicsclassroom.com/class/refrn/Lesson-5/Refraction-by-Lenses. Accessed 30 Oct. 2018.

Stark, Glenn. "Reflection and Refraction." ​Encyclopedia Britannica,​ 5 Apr. 2018,

www.britannica.com/science/light/Reflection-and-refraction. Accessed 30 Oct. 2018.

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