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Light Refraction

CSEF · 2002 Physics & Astronomy

Hayley Smith (Wade) · Stiern (Walter) Middle School, Bakersfield

Overview

Objectives/Goals Can the refraction of light be used to identify materials? Methods/Materials Using a laser and polar projection paper, I shot the light beam through the medium and calculated the refraction index of the material to identify them. Results It is possible to identify materials using Snell's Law and light refraction. Each material has a different index of refraction. For instance, in ethyl alcohol the refraction index for 45 degrees is 1.305, and for crown glass it's 1.52. It does not make a difference whether the medium in solid or liquid, as long as the substnace is thin enough for light to travel through. Conclusions/Discussion My hypothesis was correct, because it is possible to isentify materials using refraction. This process will help for many different areas and problems. For instance, identifying unknown substances in labs, and in geology to idenify what minerals are in a peice of rock.

Summary statement

Identifying liquid and solid substances by their index refraction

Help received

Mr. Bob Lewy - was my mentor throughout the experiment and let me use the materials in his lab where he worked.

Competition history

  • CSEF 2002 Physics & Astronomy · Entry J1536

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