Mr. Dechene's SNC2D
January 21, 2013
Jordyn D.
Testable Question: What effects do different mediums have on the angle of light?
Hypothesis: If the light goes through different mediums, then the light will bend because it is
slowing down as it passes through the medium.
Equipment:
Semicircular plastic dish Polar graph paper Ray box with single slit Water Syrup
Experimental Design: A ray box with a single slit will be shone through a semicircular dish
through air, water, and syrup, on top of polar graph paper to see how the light will bend.
Procedure: A semicircular dish was placed at the centre of the polar graph paper, with its flat
edge along the horizontal centre line. The 0 – 180 degree line on the polar graph paper acted
as the normal and passed through the centre of the semicircular dish. Light rays were
projected at the centre of the polar graph paper. The dish was then filled with water, and light
was projected by a single ray of light at the centre of the dish at an angle of incidence of 0
degrees. The corresponding angle was measured. Then, that was repeated, but for angles of
incidence of 10 – 60 degrees. The measure of the angle of the refracted ray in the dish was
always measured with respect to the normal. Lastly, these steps were repeated expect syrup
was placed in the dish.
Refraction Of Light In Different Media Angle of incidence in air | 0° | 10° | 20° | 30° | 40° | 50° | 60° | Angle of incidence in water | 0° | 8° | 16° | 22° | 28° | 35° | 41° | Angle of incidence in syrup | 0° | 10° | 15° | 20° | 26° | 32° | 37° |
Analysis and Evaluation:
The refracted ray bent toward the normal in the syrup. The angles of refraction for water
and syrup for the same angles