Core Practical: Investigating Refraction Flashcards

All 5 cards in this deck

What is the normal in the refraction core practical?

A line drawn at 90° to the surface of the block at the point where the ray hits it.

Which way does a light ray bend as it enters a glass block from air?

e.g. a ray hitting the surface at 40° to the normal

Towards the normal — the angle of refraction is smaller than the angle of incidence (smaller than 40°).

Why should a thin ray of light be used in the refraction core practical?

A thin ray can be traced with a sharp pencil line, so the angles are measured more accurately.

True or false? In the refraction core practical, the angle of refraction is measured from the surface of the glass block.

False. It is measured from the normal.

Which way does a light ray bend as it leaves a glass block and passes into air?

Away from the normal. The angle of refraction in the air is bigger than the angle of incidence inside the glass.