Hanne Martine G. Rstad 1.j Physics 25.03.

2014

1
Snells Law
Verification of Snel l s Law of Refraction
Apparatus
glass slab
pins
graph sheet
compass
ruler
cork board
pencil
eyesight
Theory
When a light ray passes from one medium to another, its velocity
changes with respect to the difference in refractive indices of the
two media.
Snells law states that the ratio of the sine of the angle of
incidence ( to the sine of angle of refraction ( will be
equal to the ratio of refractive indices of the second media to the
first. (

The refractive index of a substance () is defined as the ratio of velocity of light in vacuum () to the
velocity of light in the medium ().

Procedure
The goal of the experiment itself was to find and note the
refractive angles corresponding to various angles of incidence, so
that we can use these to later verify Snells law of refraction.
We first began with a sheet of graph paper which was to be used
to record our findings. We drew a coordinate system
approximately in the middle of the paper and proceeded to draw
a circle of radius 10 centimetres with its centre in the point of
origin using the compass. The graph paper was then placed on
the cork board. The glass slab was placed so that one of the
edges was in line with the x-axis of the coordinate system.
Then a pin was pinned in the point of origin (shown by a small
circle in the diagram). Another pin was placed on a random point
of the circle which was on the positive side of the y-axis. Then we used our own eyesight to place the
third and final pin, located next to the glass slab so that when seen through the glass, the pins appear
to be perfectly aligned. However, what we see through the glass has already been refracted, so the
pins will then indicate the refracted light ray. When the angle had been indicated on the graph sheet
using a pencil and a ruler. This was repeated for seven different angles of incidence.
Hanne Martine G. Rstad 1.j Physics 25.03.2014

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Raw Data

Since Snells law includes the sine of the angles and not the
angles themselves, this is what we will try to find.
Using the coordinate system and circle we drew on the graph
paper, we can find two right-angled triangles for every light
ray that was traced one for the angle of incidence () and
one for the angle of refraction (). We know that the radius of
the circle is 10 centimetres, which is the hypotenuse of both
triangles. Using the graph paper, we can measure the lengths
opposite to the angles ( ). With this information, we
can find the sine of both angles, as

Which means that

and

.
This can be calculated for each angle and put into a table.
Angle Length x [cm] sin(i) Length y [cm] sin(r)
1 2.0 0.2 1.4 0.14
Hanne Martine G. Rstad 1.j Physics 25.03.2014

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2 0.5 0.05 0.35 0.035
3 5.0 0.5 3.3 0.33
4 8.0 0.8 5.4 0.54
5 4.0 0.4 2.65 0.265
6 6.0 0.6 4.0 0.4
7 7.0 0.7 4.75 0.475
Processed data
Using the same data which was used to make the table, we can make a graph of the relation
between the sines of angles of incidence and refraction. Since the angle of incidence was the one
which was changed in order to measure the angle of refraction, the sine of the angle of incidence will
be the independent variable. The sine of angle of refraction is the dependent variable. Due to this,
the sine of angle of incidence is placed on the x-axis, and the sine of angle of refraction is placed on
the y-axis.

The slope of the graph will give us

. This is, however, not what we need for the formula. We can
then rewrite the formula so that we can use the information we have.
Snells law states that

, which in this case would be

In the case of air,

This is because

, where c is the velocity of light in vacuum, and v is

the velocity of light in the medium. In the case of air, the difference
between these two is negligible and they are given the same value.
So

= 1
38 0

Hanne Martine G. Rstad 1.j Physics 25.03.2014

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Substituting the value for the refractive index of air, we now get this formula.

We can inverse this so that we can insert the slope value from earlier.

And so, to isolate

, we can multiply both sides by

and divide them by the slope of the

graph.

If we then insert the value of the slope which can be read from the graph, we have found the
refractive index of our glass slab.

0


Conclusion
Percentage error
The refractive index of glass varies depending on what type of glass the glass slab is made from,
ranging from around 1.33 to 1.6. To calculate the percentage error, we will use an approximate
average of 1.5 as the standard value.



00

00 00
Evaluation
The percentage error is negligible. This points towards that Snells law is indeed correct and can be
used to calculate the refractive index of any given medium if one has access to sufficient data. Snells
law is thereby verified until otherwise proven.