SCES3113 : WAVES, OPTICS AND ELECTRICITY

Practical 2 : Investigate the nature of light

Theory:
Light has been described as a particle, as a wave, and even as a combination of the
two. Light behaves like both, a wave and a particle. A photon is a unit of light. Low energy
photons tend to behave more like waves and higher energy photons behave like particles.
Light has the properties of a wave and a particle. Light is a transverse, electromagnetic wave
that can be seen by the typical human. The wave nature of light was first illustrated through
experiments on diffraction and interference. Like all electromagnetic waves, light can travel
through a vacuum. The transverse nature of light can be demonstrated through polarization.
The light particle conceived by Einstein is called a photon. The main point of the light
quantum theory is the idea that light's energy is related to its oscillation frequency (known as
frequency in the case of radio waves).

The behaviors of light can be identified by refraction of light and the interference of
light. Refraction is the bending of light (it also happens with sound, water and other waves)
as it passes from one transparent substance into another. For instance, when light travels
from air to glass, it slows down, changes direction slightly, and bends toward the normal.
Hence, the angle of incidence, i . is bigger than angle of refractive, r .

Figure 1: Refraction of light from air to glass block (i>r )

Conversely, when a light ray enters an optically less dense medium at an angle, it bends
away from the normal. This is because light speed increases in an optically less dense
material. As a result, the angle of refraction, r , is greater than the angle of incidence, i .

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Figure 2: Refraction of light from glass block to air (r >i)

Light refracts whenever it travels at an angle into a substance with a different

refractive index (optical density). The refractive index, n, determines how much a light beam
bends as it travels from vacuum to medium. Consequently, the refractive index can be
defined as the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of light in that medium.

speed of ligℎt ∈vacum

Refractiveindex ,n=
speed of ligℎt ∈medium

c
n=
v

On the other hand, light passing through a single slit forms a diffraction pattern
somewhat different from those formed by double slits or diffraction gratings. Figure 3 shows
a single slit diffraction pattern. The central maximum is larger than those on either side, and
that the intensity decreases rapidly on either side.

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Figure 3

In contrast, a diffraction grating produces evenly spaced lines that dim slowly on either side
of center. Diffraction results from the interference of an infinite number of waves emitted by a
continuous distribution of source points in two or three dimensions. Interference patterns are
produced not only by double slits but also by single slits, otherwise known as single slit
interference. In the case of a single slit, the particles of medium at both corners of the slit act
as point sources, producing circular waves from both edges. These circular waves move
across to the back wall and interfere in the same way that interference patterns were
produced by double slits.

In the figure 4, the black lines intersect at the center of the pattern on the back wall.
This center point is equidistant from both edges of the slit. Therefore, the waves striking at
this position will be in phase, that is the waves will produce constructive interference. Also
shown in figure 4, just above the central bright spot where the red lines intersect, is a position
where destructive interference occurs. One of these red lines is one-half wavelength longer
than the other, causing the two waves to hit the wall out of phase and undergo destructive
interference. A dark bank appears at this position.

Figure 4

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 SCES3113 : WAVES, OPTICS AND ELECTRICITY

Activity 1.0

Aim : Study the relationship between the angle of inclination and the angle of refraction and

determine the index of refraction of glass.

Inference :

The angle of refraction depends on the angle of inclination.

Problem statement : What are the relationship between the angle of inclination and the
angle of refraction?

Hyphothesis :

The greater the angle of Inclination, i, the greater the angle of refraction, r.

Variable :
Manipulated variable : Angle of Inclination, i
Responding variable : Angle of refraction, r
Constant variable : Density of glass blocks

Apparatus
1. Ray Box
2. glass block
3. A4 Paper
4. Protactor

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Procedure
1. The sides of a piece of glass are traced and labeled on a piece of white paper.
2. Glass blocks are removed. Point O is marked on the PQ side with OP ≈ 1/3 PQ.
3. With the help of a protractor, the normal line MN through O, the lines that form the
angles of 20o, 30o, 40o, 50o and 60o are drawn and marked.
4. The glass block is put back as accurately as possible on the suriahan earlier.
5. A fine trace is directed from a beam box according to line 20o. The beam coming out of
the RS side is drawn.
6. Step 5 is repeated for other angles.
7. The glass block is removed. The beam towards the corresponding outlet is connected
and hence the values of the refraction angle, r are measured with the protractor.
8. The values of sin i, sin r and sin i / sin r (= glass refraction index) are calculated.
9. The average value of sin i / sin r is obtained and scheduled.
10. Graph sin i against sin r plotted and gradient of the graph are calculated.

Result :

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 SCES3113 : WAVES, OPTICS AND ELECTRICITY

Angle of Sin i (°) Angle of Sin r (°)

inclination, i (°) refraction, r (°)

20 0.342 15.0 0.259

30 0.500 20.0 0.342

40 0.643 25.0 0.423

50 0.766 30.0 0.500

60 0.866 34.0 0.559

Using Snell’s Law:

n1 sin i = n2 sin r

n1: indices refraction of medium 1 (air)

n2: indices refraction of medium 2 (glass)
i : angle of inclination
r : angle of refraction

Sin i/sin r = Average

Glass Refraction
Index

1.320

1.462

1.520 1.477

1.532

1.549

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Data Analysis:
Average Sin i/sin r = Glass Refraction Theoretical glass refraction index
Index

1.477 ≈ 1.5 1.54 ≈ 1.5

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Graph sin i against sin r:

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Based on the graph plotted:

Calculation for refraction index:
sin i
n=
sinr
y2 − y1
m=
x 2 − x1

(0.643− 0)
m=
(0.423− 0)

= 1.52
⇒ n = 1.52 ≈ 1.5
*The gradient of graph sin i against sin r was represents the index refraction of the glass (n).
So, the n = 1.5

Discussion :
Refraction is the bending of light (it also happens with sound, water and other
waves) as it passes from one transparent substance into another. Light refracts whenever
it travels at an angle into a substance with a different refractive index (optical density). This
change of direction is caused by a change in speed. For example, when light travels from
air into glass, it slows down, causing it to continue to travel at a different angle or direction.

Figure 5: Light travels from air into glass

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The bending of light was depends on the change of speed and the angle of incident
ray. If a substance causes the light to speed up or slow down more, it will refract (bend)
more. In this experiment, the light was pass through from air to glass. The glass was denser
than air, so the light will bend towards the normal line. Next, the angle of the incident ray also
effected the angle of refraction. If the light is entering the substance at a greater angle, the
amount of refraction will also be more noticeable. On the other hand, if the light is entering
the new substance from straight on (at 90° to the surface), the light will still slow down, but it
won’t change direction at all. Based on this experiment, it show that the bigger the incident
ray, the bigger the refraction ray. When the incident ray was 20 0 from the normal line, the
angle of refraction are 150 while when the incident ray are 600, the refraction ray of the light
was 340.

This relationship between the angles of incidence and refraction and the indices of
refraction of the two media is known as Snell's Law. Snell's law applies to the refraction of
light in any situation, regardless of what the two media are.
n1 sin i = n2 sin r

using this formula, the refraction index of glass can be found by using the average of incident
angle and refraction angle. Air at normal atmospheric pressure is very dilute and has a
refraction index of 1.00 very close to that of vacuum.
n1 sin i = n2 sin r
n 1 sini
n 2=
sin r
n2 = 1.477 ≈ 1.5

Based on the fixed value, the refraction index of the glass are 1.54, so the value of
refraction index of the glass in this experiment was 1.5. The refraction index calculated by
this experiment was accepted.
The constant refractive index of glass block is 1.50 (Hori, et. al, 2009), which is quite
close to the refractive index attained in this experiment which is 1.52 (gradient of graph).
There might be some minor errors when conducting this experiment so the value that we
got a little bit different from the theory. In order to obtain an exact results, it is a must to
concentrate more on finding the accurate refraction degree. The results were slightly
inaccurate due to the fact that not much effort put into getting the ray light on a straight line
accurately and the surrounding wasn’t dark enough. If the effort was put on to this the
results would have been greatly increased.

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 SCES3113 : WAVES, OPTICS AND ELECTRICITY

Conclusion :
Hypothesis accepted. The greater the angle of inclination, i, the greater the angle of
refraction, r.

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 SCES3113 : WAVES, OPTICS AND ELECTRICITY

Activity 2.0
Experiment :
Study the factors that influence the pattern of light wave interference.

Aim :
To study the relationship between wavelength of monochromatic light and the distance
between two consecutive edges.

Inferences :
The distance between two consecutive edges depends on the wavelength of monochromatic
light.

Problem statement :
What are the relationship between wavelength of monochromatic light and the distance
between two consecutive edges?

Hyphothesis :
The greater the wavelength of monochromatic light, the greater the distance between two
consecutive edges.

Variable :
Manipulated variable : The wavelength of monochromatic light
Responding variable : The distance between two consecutive edges
Constant variable : The distance between slit insert and white screen, D.

Apparatus
1. Ray box
2. glass block
3. A 4 Paper

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Procedure
1. A light beam box is used in a dark laboratory.
2. A red filter is placed between the lamp with a single slit insert.
3. Lights are lit and interference patterns formed on the screen are observed and sketched
by prioritizing the distance between the edges.
4. The distance between the 11 bright edges on the formed interference pattern is
measured. Then the distance between the two bright edges, x is determined.
5. Steps 2 to 4 are repeated using blue and yellow filters.

6. The wavelength of each filter are calculated and a graph x against λ drawn.

Result:
Wave length, λ can be determined by using:
ax
λ= D

a = 0.1cm

D = 7 cm
FILTER X λ

Red 2.9 0.1(2.9)

7
= 0.04

Yellow 1.7 0.1(1.7)

7
= 0.02

Blue 2.0 0.1(2.0)

7
= 0.03

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Discussion :

Light passing through a single slit forms a diffraction pattern somewhat

different from those formed by double slits or diffraction gratings. Figure 1 shows a
single slit diffraction pattern. Note that the central maximum is larger than those on
either side, and that the intensity decreases rapidly on either side. In contrast, a
diffraction grating produces evenly spaced lines that dim slowly on either side of
center.

Reference:

England.N. (2001). Physics Matters, 3rd Edition. Hodder & Stoughton. London.

Koay et al. (2021). Spotlight A+ Physics Form 4.5. Pan Asia Publications Sdn Bhd. Shah
Alam, Selangor.
Leh.Y.K. (2016). Amali Proses Sains Physics Form 4. Penerbitan Pelangi Sdn Bhd. Bangi,
Selangor.

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Science Learning Hub – Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao. (2012, April 26). Refraction of light.

https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/49-refraction-of-light

Spinks, Q. (2017, August 11). Discover PHYSICS for GCE ‘O’ Level Science. Ppt Video

Online Download. https://slideplayer.com/slide/4180469/

Attachment

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