Study on Reflection and Refraction

Reflection at an interface between two separate media can be described as changing the path of a wavefront such that the wavefront returns to the media from which it originated. When light bounces off an object, the reflection of light happens. The light is reflected at an angle that depends on the incidence angle. The relation between the incidence angle is equal to the reflection angle. This is the basic law of reflection. From a line perpendicular to the reflective surface, these angles are determined.
Light refraction happens as light travels from one source to another. If the light passes from a fast medium to slow medium, it bends towards the normal to the boundary between the two media.

The bending of light in in the media depends on the indices of refraction which are related by Snell’s law where the refraction index is given by

Snell’s law states that the relationship between the angle of incident and the refracted angle is given by

Where n is the refractive index, c is the speed of light in a vacuum and v is the speed of light in the given media.

Discussion and data analysis

Reflection of light

Angle of incidence

30

45

60

Angle of reflection

29

45

60

The data obtained from the experiment shows that the angle of incidence and the reflected angle are equal thus observing the laws of reflection.

The image distance is the same as the object distance. The image formed by the mirror is a virtual image since in cannot be focused on screen.

Refractive index of water

Experiment

Incident angle

Refracted angle

Refractive index

1

30

21

1.39

2

45

33

1.298

3

65

43

1.328

=0.75%

Experiment

Incident angle

Refracted angle

Refractive index

1

30

19

1.53

2

45

28

1.51

3

65

37

1.50