5.2 More About Refraction

Question 1

Why does refraction occur

Answer 1

Because the speed of the light waves is different in each substance
The amount of refraction that takes place depends on the speed of the waves in each substance

Question 2

sin i / sin r =

Answer 2

c / cs = n

Where c and cs are speedsm and n is the refractive index

Question 3

What doesn’t change when refraction occurs

Answer 3

The frequency of a wave

Question 4

refractive index ns =

Answer 4

c/cs = λ /λ s

Question 5

Snells law where n2 is the refractive index of substance 2

Answer 5

n1sinθ1 = n2sinθ2

Question 6

When a light ray passes from a vacuum into a transparent substance of refractive index n,

Answer 6

sinθ1/sinθ2 = n

Question 7

the speed of light in a vacuum/the speed of light in the transparent substance =

Answer 7

n, the refractive index

Question 8

What changes during refraction

Answer 8

The speed and wavelength

Question 9

Refractive index of air

Answer 9

Approximately 1

Question 10

Refractive index of a vacuum

Answer 10

1

Question 11

What does a beam of white light split into when using a prism

Answer 11

Split into colours of the spectrum

Question 12

Why does a beam of white light split when shining it through a prism

Answer 12

The prism refracts light by different amounts depending on its wavelength. Violet light travels more slowly than red light in glass so the refractive index of violet light is greater than the refractive index of red light