Refraction of Light. light ray. rectangular plastic slab. normal rectangular slab

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Randolf Davis
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1 Refraction of Light light ray light box single slit rectangular plastic slab What is the light path for a ray aligned with the normal? What is the light path for rays not aligned with the normal? light box light ray normal rectangular slab normal Normal = imaginary line drawn perpendicular to the point where the light ray enters the second medium. Angle of incidence = angle between the normal and the incoming light ray. Angle of refraction = angle between the normal and the outgoing light ray.

2 Law of Refraction When a light ray passes from a ï More dense to a less dense medium, the light wave speeds up and bends away from the normal. ï Less dense to a more dense medium the light wave slows down and bends toward the normal. The greater the angle of incidence the larger the angle of refraction. air plastic normal Why is there no refraction as the light rays exit the plastic slab?

3 Index of Refraction air plastic Law of Refraction Light is refracted (bent) only at the interface between two transparent materials of different density. Light slows down when entering a denser medium. Light speeds up when entering a less dense medium Index of Refraction index of refraction = n = n(water) = speed of light in a vacuum speed of light in a medium 300,000 km/s 225,564 km/s Index of Refraction for different media: vacuum n = air n = water n = 1.33 diamond n = 2.4

4 Interfaces between Two Media Light passing from a less dense to a more dense medium bends toward the normal. Light passing from a more dense to a less dense medium bends away from the normal. Light passing along the normal does not bend at the interface between two media of different density.

5 Reflection and Refraction Usually Both Occur Any light ray entering a transparent medium is both reflected and transmitted. Less dense to more dense medium: incident reflected ray less dense more dense transmitted ray More dense to less dense medium: transmitted ray less dense weak reflected ray incident more dense less dense all light tot internal reflection more dense incident angle exceeds ì critical angleî

6 Light Changes Speed in Refraction Why does light change speed and direction in media of different densities? air light wave plastic Average speed of light decreases when light passes from a less to a more dense medium. Average speed of light increases when light passes from a more to a less dense medium.

7 What is wrong and what is right with this picture? 1 Air Water Remember the eye always assumes that light has traveled in a straight line! So images of refracted objects are not where you think they are. 1 Air 2 3 light 4 Which light ray from the light bulb is correctly drawn? 5 Water

8 Human Eye ï Cornea focuses light ï Lens changes shape by eye muscles to refine focus for reading or distance vision ï Cornea and lens form image on retina image. ï Light sensors in retina send information to optic nerve, and brain interprets Can you see well under water? water cornea lens aqueous humor optic nerve retina The ì aqueous humorî that fills the eye and the lens in the eye have nearly the same density as water. Where does refraction occur and where does an image form for an eye under water?

9 In air the human eye (cornea with help from lens) focuses light on the retina Human eye cornea aqueous humor lens How well can you see under water? Human eye water aqueous humor cornea lens Can you see better under water with goggles? water air eye swimming goggles What happens at the water/glass interface? water/air interface? air/cornea interface?

10 Where does the image form? water optical axis goggles air View from under water What does the fish see?

11 VIEW FROM UNDER WATER critical angle 48

12 Image Formation Under What Conditions Can Images Form? Will an Image Form on this Screen? light bulb screen What sends, what reflects, what refracts and what detects light? light lens object eye screen What does it mean to ìseeî something? What does it mean to ìseeî an image of something? What has light got to do with seeing?

13 Ray Tracing to Find Image of One Point in Bulbís Filament Predicting properties of images formed by lenses. focal point focal point RAY TRACING & IMAGE FORMATION LENSES Double Convex (Converging) Lens

14 Double Concave (Diverging) Lens

15 Double Convex (Converging) Lens

16 Double Concave (Diverging) Lens

17 Double Convex (Converging) Lens

PSC20 - Properties of Waves 3

PSC20 - Properties of Waves 3 The speed of light is in a vacuum. it travels 299 972 458 m/s. (rounded to m/s). Speed of light is given the symbol comes from the word meaning. How far do you think light