Practical - Reflection And Refraction

Question 1

What is the purpose of tracing rays of light in this practical?

Answer 1

To investigate how light refracts and reflects when interacting with different materials.

Question 2

What conditions are necessary for accurate and precise investigations?

Answer 2

• Low light conditions
• Slit in the ray box as far from the bulb as possible
• Sharp pencil and ruler for drawing rays
• Line drawn at 90° to any surface or boundary
• Angles measured from this line to the ray
• Marking either side of solid block to work out the path of a ray inside the block.

Question 3

What should the angle of reflection be determined from?

Answer 3

A particular angle of incidence.

Question 4

How did the student set up to determine the angle of reflection?

Answer 4

By setting up a ray box and a mirror, and marking the paths of the rays on paper.

Question 5

Why is the placement of the mirror incorrect in the student’s drawing?

Answer 5

The rays will not meet on the line where the mirror is placed.

Question 6

What is one reason why the marks for each ray might not be in a straight line?

Answer 6

The beam from the ray box was very broad due to the slit being too close to the bulb, or the classroom lights were on.

Question 7

Complete the diagram by drawing in the rays using the marks that the student put on the paper. True/False: This task requires knowledge of ray diagrams.

Answer 7

True

Question 8

Label the following in the diagram: angle of incidence, angle of refraction, and the normal. Fill in the blank: The rays entering and leaving the block are _______.

Answer 8

parallel

Question 9

What does the normal line in a ray diagram represent?

Answer 9

A line at 90° to any surface or boundary.