Higher Physics

Particles and Waves - Activity 5

Refractive index of a perspex block

Aim - Measurement of the refractive index n of a perspex block.     Instructions 
  • The angle of incidence qa of the ray of light is 10o.   Turn on the protractor and measure the corresponding angle of refraction qb .
  • Increase the incident angle in  5o steps and in each case measure the refracted angle.
  • Use an appropriate format to show the relationship between sin qa   and sin qb
  • Determine the refractive index of the perspex block.
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