BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, AJMAN
Experiment No. 2
NAME: _________________________ DATE:
SUBJECT: Physics GRADE & SECTION: 9 B/G
TOPIC: Investigating the To investigate the refraction of light through a glass slab and
determine the refractive index of its material.
LEARNING OBJECTIVE: To investigate the refraction of light through a glass slab and
determine the refractive index.
In this experiment you are to investigate the refraction of light through a transparent block.
You have been provided with
a ray tracing sheet
a plane mirror
a ruler
a protractor and
few pins.
Carry out the following instructions,
Safety Information:
Conduct the investigation standing, to reduce the risk of scalding
Take care with sharp pins to prevent injury.
Your safety is our priority!
(a) Place the transparent block, largest face down, on the sheet of plain paper supplied. The block
should be approximately in the middle of the paper. Draw the outline ABCD of the block .
(b) Remove the block and draw the normal NN to side AB so that the normal is 2.0cm from A.
Label the point G where NN crosses DC.
(c) Draw the line EF at an angle of 30° to the normal as shown in Fig. 1.1.
(d) Place the paper on the pin board.
(e) Place two pins P1 and P2 on line EF.
(f) Replace the block and observe the images of P 1 and P2 through side CD of the block so that the
images of P1 and P2 appear one behind the other. Place two pins P3 and P4 between your eye and
the block so that P3 and P4 and the images of P1 and P2, seen through the block, appear one
behind the other. Mark the positions of P1, P2, P3 and P4. Remove the block.
(g) Draw a line joining the positions of P 3 and P4. Continue the line until it meets CD. Label this
point H.
(h) Measure and record the length a of the line GH.
a = ------------------------------------
Fig. 1.1
(i) Draw the line HF.
(j) Measure and record the length b of the line HF.
b = ------------------------------------
(k) Extend the straight line EF within the outline of the block to a point I. The distance FI must be
exactly equal to b.
(l) From I draw a line that meets NN at a right angle. Label this position J.
(m) Measure and record the length c of the line IJ.
c = ------------------------------------
(n) Calculate the refractive index n of the material of the block using the equatio.
c
n= a
(o) The accepted value of the refractive index of glass is 1.5. How do your results compare to this?
Use your result to support your answer
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(p) Another student conducts the same investigation. He gets the result as 1.39. Thinking about the
difficulties that you faced in the experiment, why might the student have obtained such an
incorrect value?
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(q) State one improvement you could to the design of your investigation to ensure more accurate
result.
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