Lab Report

(Lab Reports must be submitted to the Physics lab at the end of your lab period.  The lab report may be submitted on a separate piece of paper or as a page in your notebook.  See Lab Point)

Refraction Computer simulation

Overview

Click this link to open the refraction simulation (a PhET simulation) in a new window
and then select Intro.

The simulation shows a ray (turn on by clicking red button) striking an interface.  
Change the angle by dragging the source.
Notice larger angles (as measured to the normal) change more on refraction.
Identify the incident, refracted and reflected rays.

Clicking the Wave mode shows refraction changes to the ray wave lengths.
Switch back to the Ray mode and move the protractor into position
for measuring the ray angles. 

For all parts be sure to show your work, which includes indicating the angles you used to calculate the results.

1. Index of Refraction

Set up the simulation for a ray to travel from water into Mystery A material.
Determine the incident and reflected angles.
1a.  Calculate the index of refraction of Mystery A material.

Set up the simulation for a ray to travel from air into Mystery B material.
Determine the incident and reflected angles.
1b.  Calculate the index of refraction of Mystery B material.

2. Total Internal Reflection

Set up the simulation for a ray to travel from glass into water.
Move the source around and notice at certain angles
the ray no longer bends into the water.
This is total internal reflection within the glass material
(ray does not exit the glass material)

2a.  Determine the incident angle where the refracted ray just disappears (actually, the refracted ray is skimming the surface at 90 degrees).  This incident angle is call the critical angle.