6.1 Refraction of Light

CHAPTER 6
LIGHT AND OPTICS
6.1 REFRACTION
OF LIGHT
PHYSICS FORM 4 KSSM DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAMME | CHAPTER 6 LIGHT AND OPTICS| 6.1 REFRACTION OF LIGHT
LEARNING STANDARD
6.1.1 Describe refraction of light
What is the common PHENOMENON
shown below? Refraction of light
A thermometer appears Coin is visible Arrow reverse after

bent in oil and in water after the bowl the glass filled with
filled with water water
CHARACTERISTICS
of
❑ Light can pass through transparent object such as air and glass.
❑ Light travel in a straight line when it is pass through one

transparent medium.
HOW does the LIGHT TRAVELS in a
medium?
❑ Light rays bend when travelling from

Medium 1: air into a glass block.
Air
❑ When light travel from air into glass block, its

speed is reduced by the glass particles.
Medium 2:
Glass block
❑ The change in the speed of light in glass causes
the rays of light to change direction.
Density
VS Optical Density
Optical density < Optical density
Density of water > Density of oil of water of oil
In oil: Thermometer
bends more from
original path
Original path of
In water: Thermometer thermometer in
bend less from original air
path
Density defined as mass Optical density is a measurement of the ability
per unit volume. of an optical material (transparent material) to
absorb/bend light which travels through it.
Density ≠ Optical density
Optical Density and Speed of Light
• A medium that can reduce the speed of light is

said to have higher optical density.
Original
path
• The higher the optical density of material, the lower
the light speed propagating through it, the more
Medium 1: the light bend from the original path.
Air (more bending effect)
Medium 2:
Glass block
• When light rays travel through mediums of different
optical densities, the change in light speed causes
refraction of light (change in direction).
Definition of Refraction of Light
Refraction of light is the change in direction of light which occurs

due to the change in speed of light when traveling through two
mediums of different optical densities.
Refraction of light from air to glass block
(i > r)
Based on Figure A;
▪ Light rays bend towards the normal when
travels from a medium of low optical density
(air) to a medium of high optical density
(glass block).
▪ This is because the speed of light decreases

as it travels from an optically less dense
medium to a denser medium.
▪ Due to this, the angle of refraction, r is

smaller than the angle of incidence, i.
Figure A
Refraction of light from glass block to air
(i < r)
Based on Figure B;
▪ Light rays bend away from the normal
when travels from a medium of high
optical density (glass block) to a
medium of low optical density (air).
▪ This is because the speed of light

increases as it travels from an optically
denser medium to a less dense
medium.
▪ Due to this, the angle of refraction, r is

greater than the angle of incidence, i.
Figure B
Important terms describing refraction of light
Terms Explanation
Normal A line perpendicular to the
boundary
Incident ray The ray in the first medium
Angle of incident, i Angle between incident ray and

normal
The higher the angle
Refracted ray The ray in the second medium
of deviation, the
smaller the angle of
Angle of refraction, r Angle between refracted ray and
normal refraction (Light bend
Angle of deviation, 𝛅 Angle between refracted ray and
towards normal)
original path of light in the first medium
LEARNING STANDARD
6.1.2 Explain refractive index, n
Refractive Index and bending ability of a medium
REFRACTIVE INDEX, n determines the degree to which

light bends when travelling from vacuum/air to a
medium.
▪ It indicates the bending ability of the medium.
n = 1.33
▪ The higher the refractive index, the greater bending

effect on light because it slows light more.
▪ It causes a larger angle of deviation of the ray of n = 2.42

light, bends the ray of light more towards the normal.
(the smaller the value of r)
Refractive Index
DEFINITION – The ratio of speed of light in vacuum to
the speed of light in medium.
Refractive index, n = speed of light in vacuum = c
speed of light in medium v
Refractive indices for several mediums
where c = 3.0 x 108 m s-1
Medium Refractive index
Vacuum and air 1.00
Water 1.33
Olive oil 1.46
Perspex 1.50
Glass (crown) 1.52
Glass (flint) 1.66
Light rays travelling from water into three different mediums
Diamond 2.42
ANS: HOT TIPS – The higher the refractive
index, the higher the deviation angle, the
smaller the refracted angle / incident angle,
the light bend more towards normal
LEARNING STANDARD
6.1.3 Conceptualize Snell's Law
Snell’s Law
The incident ray, the refracted ray and normal
meet at one point and are in the same plane.
LEARNING STANDARD
6.1.4 Experiment to determine the

refractive index, n for glass block or perspex
(a) To study the relationship between i and r
(b) To determine the refractive index, n of the glass block
LEARNING STANDARD
6.1.5 Explain real depth and apparent depth
Real Depth and Apparent Depth
• A coin appears closer to the surface of water
because:
a) Light rays from real coin travel through water to
the surface.
b) The light rays are then refracted away from

normal because of the speed of light increases
and the virtual coin (image) seen by the
observer appears to come from the image,
which is above the real coin.
• The refractive index, n of a medium can

express as:
Answer:
(a) (i) Refraction of light
(ii) The speed of light changes when travel through

two mediums of different optical densities //
The speed of light decreases when travel from air
to water, it refracted towards normal.
X
(b)(i) He is shooting at the

image of the fish.
Answer:
(c) He should shoot a few cm below
the image of fish.
(ii) n = H / h
1.33 = H / 1.8 m
H = 1.33 x 1.8 m
= 2.394 m
LEARNING STANDARD
6.1.6 Experiment to determine

refractive index of a medium using
real depth and apparent depth
(a) To study the relationship between H and h of an object placed in water
(b) To determine the refractive index, n using H and h
Procedure: Variable:
1) Apparatus is set up as shown in Figure a) MV: Real depth, H
2) A steel pin (pin O) is placed at the base of the tall b) RV : Apparent depth, h
beaker. c) CV: Refractive index of water, n
3) Another pin (Pin I) is mounted on the moveable
clamp of a retort stand.
4) The beaker is filled with water to the depth,
H = 20 cm.
5) Pin O is observed from above the surface of the water.
Pin I is adjusted until its position is at the same level as
the image of Pin O in the beaker.
6) The position of Pin I is measured and recorded as
apparent depth, h.
7) The experiment is repeated by changing the H = 30.0,
40.0, 50.0, 60.0 cm.
8) A graph H against h is plotted.
Results: Graph H against h
Real depth, H Apparent

depth, h
20.0 15.0
30.0 23.0
40.0 30.0
50.0 38.0
60.0 45.0
Discussion:
❑ Apparent depth, h < Real depth, H
❑ When H increases, h increases.
❑ The graph H against h is a straight line passing

Gradient =
through the origin. Therefore, h ∝ 𝐇
❑ The gradient of the graph H against h is the
refractive index of water, n = 1.55
Conclusion:
❑ The ratio of real depth, H to apparent depth is the refraction index of water, n.
LEARNING STANDARD
6.1.7 Solve problems related to

refraction of light
(b)(i) Diagram 5.1 > Diagram 5.2 (b)(ii) Diagram 5.1 > Diagram 5.2
(iv) Refraction of light
(iii) Real depth is directly proportional to apparent depth
Image
1m – draw light ray refracted away

from normal
1m – continue dash line
1m – image of the coin above the
actual coin

6.1 Refraction of Light

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CHAPTER 6

LIGHT AND OPTICS

6.1.1 Describe refraction of light

A thermometer appears Coin is visible Arrow reverse after

❑ Light travel in a straight line when it is pass through one

❑ Light rays bend when travelling from

❑ When light travel from air into glass block, its

• A medium that can reduce the speed of light is

Refraction of light is the change in direction of light which occurs

▪ This is because the speed of light decreases

▪ Due to this, the angle of refraction, r is

▪ This is because the speed of light

▪ Due to this, the angle of refraction, r is

Angle of incident, i Angle between incident ray and

6.1.2 Explain refractive index, n

REFRACTIVE INDEX, n determines the degree to which

▪ The higher the refractive index, the greater bending

▪ It causes a larger angle of deviation of the ray of n = 2.42

6.1.3 Conceptualize Snell's Law

6.1.4 Experiment to determine the

6.1.5 Explain real depth and apparent depth

b) The light rays are then refracted away from

• The refractive index, n of a medium can

(ii) The speed of light changes when travel through

(b)(i) He is shooting at the

6.1.6 Experiment to determine

Real depth, H Apparent

❑ The graph H against h is a straight line passing

6.1.7 Solve problems related to

1m – draw light ray refracted away

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