Service
Principle
In this experiment, the students have the possibility of
perfecting their experimental skills and strengthening their
understanding of the law of refraction. In conjunction with the
observation of incident light at the boundary between air and
glass, the path of the light beam is determined and evaluated
by using a semigraphical procedure. In this way, the
importance of mathematics for the understanding of physics can be
demonstrated.
The experiment is demanding in terms of the experimental skills of
the students. Only after careful adjustments and a conscientious
evaluation can good results be obtained. However, the
comparison of the experimentally obtained (relative)
refractive index with the values in the table should give the
students the feeling that, despite the simplified experimental
conditions, they have obtained a relatively precise result.
The experiment can be beneficially used even at the second level of
secondary school. Here, the semigraphical procedure can be
complemented by the calculation of the sine values for α and β!
Thus, the quantitative version of Snell's law of refraction can be
determined.
Benefits
- Multifunctional light box - All-in-one: Can be used for geometric optics on the table, colour mixing and on an optical bench
- Extension with others sets at anytime, no additional light sources needed, recognition value for students
Tasks
What does the refractive index indicate? Determine the refractive index of glass.
