Refraction Chapter 15 Refraction Refraction The bending of
Refraction Chapter 15
Refraction • Refraction: The bending of light as it travels from one medium to another • Refraction occurs when light’s velocity changes • The speed of light varies with the medium
Refraction Θi = Angle of Incidence Θr = Angle of Refraction
Index of Refraction • Index of Refraction = speed of light in vacuum speed of light in medium
*Only valid for light with wavelength of 589 nm in a vacuum (p. 564)
Snell’s Law determines the angle of refraction nisin(θi) = nrsin(θr) ni = Index of refraction of first medium nr = Index of refraction of second medium θi = Angle of Incidence θr = Angle of Refraction
Bending relative to the normal • When light passes from a medium with a low index of refraction to a medium with a high index of refraction, the ray bends toward the normal • When light passes from a medium with a high index of refraction to a medium with a low index of refraction, the ray bends away from the normal
CATBEAR trying to catch a fish!!!
Sample Problem (p. 567 #4) • Sunlight passes into a raindrop at an angle of 22. 5° from the normal at one point on the droplet. What is the angle of refraction?
Sunlight into a raindrop • Will the ray bend away from the normal or towards the normal? – Low n to high n, the ray will bend toward the normal θi θr
Use Snell’s Law
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