Lesson: Refraction of Light

In this lesson, we will learn how to describe refraction as the speed and direction change of light when passing between media of different densities.

Sample Question Videos

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Worksheet: 21 Questions • 1 Video

Q1:

A light ray traveling in water is incident on the flat surface of a glass block, hitting the surface at an angle of 45 degrees from the line normal to it. The refracted ray in the block travels at an angle of 37.8 degrees to the line normal to the surface. What is the refractive index of the glass? Use a value of 1.3 for the refractive index of water.

Q2:

What is the ratio of the speed of the red light in air to that of the red light in the other material? Answer to two decimal places.

What is the ratio of the speed of the green light in air to that of the green light in the other material? Answer to two decimal places.

What is the ratio of the speed of the indigo light in air to that of the indigo light in the other material? Answer to two decimal places.

Which of the three light waves will change direction by the largest angle when passing from air into the other material?

Q3:

White light passes from air into a glass prism. Which of the following diagrams most correctly shows the refraction of the red, green, and indigo parts of the white light?

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