Snells law lab
To perform a Snell's Law lab, you will need the following materials:
1. Rectangular glass container (like a glass box)
2. Water or other transparent liquid
3. Light source (a laser or flashlight can work)
4. Protractor
5. Ruler
6. Paper and pen for recording observations
Here are the steps to conduct the Snell's Law lab:
1. Set up the rectangular glass container and fill it with water (or any other transparent liquid) until it is about half full.
2. Place the light source at one end of the container. Make sure it is secure and pointing straight ahead.
3. On the opposite side of the container, place the protractor against the glass, making sure it is perpendicular to the glass surface.
4. Shine the light through the water and observe the path of the light beam as it enters and exits the container.
5. To measure the angles, align the ruler with the incident beam, and read the angle of incidence (i) on the protractor. Record this value.
6. Measure the angle of refraction (r) by aligning the ruler with the refracted beam after it exits the container. Record this value as well.
7. Repeat steps 4-6 for different incident angles (i) and record the corresponding angles of refraction (r).
8. Analyze your data by comparing the angle of incidence and the angle of refraction. Calculate the ratio of sin(i)/sin(r) for each data point.
9. Plot a graph with the angle of incidence on the x-axis and the ratio sin(i)/sin(r) on the y-axis. The graph should show a linear relationship.
By following these steps and analyzing the data, you will observe and understand Snell's Law, which states that the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction is constant for a given pair of media.
Note: It is essential to ensure consistent and accurate measurements while conducting the lab to obtain reliable results.