Refractive

 Index   IGCSE  
 
1. Fill in the gaps in the following sentences.

Refraction is the bending of _________ (light/electricity) which occurs when it

enters a different __________ (small/medium). Light travels at different ______

(speeds/times) in different media; e.g. it is ________ (faster/slower) in glass and

water than it is in a vacuum. Media in which light travels slower are said to be optically

________ (shallow/dense). It is the changing of speed that causes light to refract.

When light enters a more optically dense material it refracts _____________

(towards/away from) the normal. When light exits a more optically dense material it

refracts _____________ (towards/away from) the normal.

Refractive index = sin i / sin r

2. Using the table of values below, calculate the refractive index of the medium.
Suggest which material the medium is made of.

Angle of Incidence Angle of Refraction Refractive Index Material

24.0 15.7
24.0 9.76
24.0 18.2
63.0 36.4
47.0 29.2

Material Refractive Index

Glass 1.5
Perspex 1.5
Diamond 2.4
Water 1.3

3. Using the above equation calculate what the angle of incidence must have been
to give the following angles of refraction in glass.
a. 23°
b. 33°
c. 40°
4. A beam of light shines on a diamond block with an angle of incidence of 15°.
Calculate the angle of refraction.
 Refractive  Index   IGCSE  
 
1. Fill in the gaps in the following sentences.

Refraction is the bending of _________ (light/electricity) which occurs when it

enters a different __________ (small/medium). Light travels at different ______

(speeds/times) in different media; e.g. it is ________ (faster/slower) in glass and

water than it is in a vacuum. Media in which light travels slower are said to be optically

________ (shallow/dense). It is the changing of speed that causes light to refract.

When light enters a more optically dense material it refracts _____________

(towards/away from) the normal. When light exits a more optically dense material it

refracts _____________ (towards/away from) the normal.

Refractive index = sin i / sin r

2. Using the table of values below, calculate the refractive index of the medium.
Suggest which material the medium is made of.

Angle of Incidence Angle of Refraction Refractive Index Material

24.0 15.7
24.0 9.76
24.0 18.2
63.0 36.4
47.0 29.2

Material Refractive Index

Glass 1.5
Perspex 1.5
Diamond 2.4
Water 1.3

3. Using the above equation calculate what the angle of incidence must have been
to give the following angles of refraction in glass.
a. 23°
b. 33°
c. 40°
4. A beam of light shines on a diamond block with an angle of incidence of 15°.
Calculate the angle of refraction.
 Refractive  Index   IGCSE  
 
1. Fill in the gaps in the following sentences.

Refraction is the bending of _________ (light/electricity) which occurs when it

enters a different __________ (small/medium). Light travels at different ______

(speeds/times) in different media; e.g. it is ________ (faster/slower) in glass and

water than it is in a vacuum. Media in which light travels slower are said to be optically

________ (shallow/dense). It is the changing of speed that causes light to refract.

When light enters a more optically dense material it refracts _____________

(towards/away from) the normal. When light exits a more optically dense material it

refracts _____________ (towards/away from) the normal.

Refractive index = sin i / sin r

2. Using the table of values below, calculate the refractive index of the medium.
Suggest which material the medium is made of.

Angle of Incidence Angle of Refraction Refractive Index Material

24.0 15.7 1.5 Glass/Perspex
24.0 9.76 2.4 Diamond
24.0 18.2 1.3 Water
63.0 36.4 1.5 Glass/Perspex
47.0 29.2 1.5 Glass/Perspex

Material Refractive Index

Glass 1.5
Perspex 1.5
Diamond 2.4
Water 1.3

3. Using the above equation calculate what the angle of incidence must have been
to give the following angles of refraction in glass.
a. 23° 35.9°
b. 33° 54.8°
c. 40° 74.6°
4. A beam of light shines on a diamond block with an angle of incidence of 15°.
Calculate the angle of refraction.
 Refractive  Index   IGCSE  
 
1. Fill in the gaps in the following sentences.

Refraction is the bending of _________ (light/electricity) which occurs when it

enters a different __________ (small/medium). Light travels at different ______

(speeds/times) in different media; e.g. it is ________ (faster/slower) in glass and

water than it is in a vacuum. Media in which light travels slower are said to be optically

________ (shallow/dense). It is the changing of speed that causes light to refract.

When light enters a more optically dense material it refracts _____________

(towards/away from) the normal. When light exits a more optically dense material it

refracts _____________ (towards/away from) the normal.

Refractive index = sin i / sin r

2. Using the table of values below, calculate the refractive index of the medium.
Suggest which material the medium is made of.

Angle of Incidence Angle of Refraction Refractive Index Material

24.0 15.7 1.5 Glass/Perspex
24.0 9.76 2.4 Diamond
24.0 18.2 1.3 Water
63.0 36.4 1.5 Glass/Perspex
47.0 29.2 1.5 Glass/Perspex

Material Refractive Index

Glass 1.5
Perspex 1.5
Diamond 2.4
Water 1.3

3. Using the above equation calculate what the angle of incidence must have been
to give the following angles of refraction in glass.
a. 23° 35.9°
b. 33° 54.8°
c. 40° 74.6°
4. A beam of light shines on a diamond block with an angle of incidence of 15°.
Calculate the angle of refraction.