Subject: Science
Light refraction refers to the process by which light bends at the interface of two optical mediums. It involves the normal, incident, refracted, and emergent rays. The angle of refraction is always less than the angle of incidence, and the law of refraction states that the angle of refraction is calculated from the angle of incidence. The refractive index of a medium is determined by dividing its speed in air or vacuum by its speed in that medium. Refraction in the water-air interface and in the atmosphere causes stars to appear sparkling, while planets and satellites appear larger due to the shift in their positions.
Following are some light-refraction terms:
In air-glass interference, the angle of refraction (r) is always less than the angle of incidence. As light speeds up in air, rays going via glass-air interference move away from the normal. The angle of incidence (i) and the angle of emergence (e) become equal. Light rays bend towards the normal inside the glass slab and away from it as they exit into the air medium, causing a lateral shift. Light from the air enters any transparent medium at an angle of refraction (r) that depends on the medium and incidence angle. As the angle of incidence changes, so does the angle of refraction. The angle of refraction can be calculated from the angle of incidence using the law of refraction.
Natural light on the glass slab passes through without bending. Increased incidence (i) increases refraction (r). The laws of refraction of light are listed below.
The table below lists some media's refractive indices along with the speed of light in each. After examining the refractive indexes of the various media in the table and their corresponding decreasing light speed orders, what conclusions may be drawn?
Medium | Refractive Index | Speed of Light (m/s) | Medium | Refractive Index | Speed of Light (m/s) |
Water | 1.33 | 2.25×108 | Glycerin | 1.47 | 2.04×108 |
Alcohol | 1.36 | 2.19 ×108 | Glass | 1.50 | 2.00×108 |
Kerosene oil | 1.44 | 2.08×108 | Diamond | 2.42 | 1.24×108 |
© 2021 Saralmind. All Rights Reserved.