| Law of Reflection | θ1 = θ2 | |
| Law of Refraction |
 |
PRELAB
PURPOSE
To study the principles of reflection and refraction of light.
EQUIPMENT NEEDED Pasco geometrical optics kit, standard sized plain paper, straight edge.
RELEVANT EQUATIONS
| Law of Reflection | θ1 = θ2 | |
| Law of Refraction |
|
DISCUSSION
Light appears to travel in straight lines, at least in many situations. It bends only when it goes from one material into another. You will observe these phenomena to see if your observations agree with theory. With respect to reflection, the "law" may be stated as follows:
| The angle of reflection equals the angle of incidence: | θr = θi |
With respect to refraction, the "law" may be stated as follows:
where n1 and n2 and are the indexes of refraction of the two media, θ1 is the angle of incidence, and θ2 is the angle of refraction.
These two laws are illustrated in Fig. 12-1:
Fig 12-1: Reflection and Refraction of Light
Print out and complete the
Prelab questions.