The document discusses the properties of light including reflection, refraction, dispersion, diffraction, interference, and polarization. It provides examples of how light bends, or refracts, when moving between transparent materials with different refractive indices, causing the light to change speed. Sample problems are shown calculating angles of incidence and refraction using Snell's law and the refractive indices of materials like glass, water, and optical fibers.

1. Prepared by:
Ms. Jasmine Nikki M. Versoza

5. PROPERTIES OF LIGHT
Reflection
Refraction
Dispersion
Diffraction
Interference
Polarization

6. Light bends when it changes speed
which happens when it travels from
one transparent medium to the
next.

7. If light slows down,
it will refract
towards the normal
line.
air
water

8. If light speeds
up, it will refract
away from the
normal line.
water
glass

9.  When light enters a denser substance (higher
refractive index), it bends towards the normal
line.
 When light enters a less dense substance
(lower refractive index), it bends away from the
normal line.

10. Willebrord
Snellius
1621

13. MEDIUM REFRACTIVE INDEX (n)
Vacuum 1.00
Air 1.003
Water 1.33
Ethanol 1.36
Diamond 2.42

14. SAMPLE PROBLEM 1A
If a ray is refracted at an angle of 14° and the
refractive index is 1.2, compute the angle of
incidence.
Given:
• Angle of refraction, r = 14°
• Refractive index, n = 1.2

15. SAMPLE PROBLEM 1A
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑖
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑟
= 𝑛
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑖
𝑠𝑖𝑛14
= 1.2
sin 𝑖 = 1.2 𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛14
1.2 𝑥 0.24
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑖 = 0.28
𝑖 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛−1
0.28
𝒊 = 𝟏𝟕°

16. SAMPLE PROBLEM 1B
If the angle of incidence is 25° and angle of
refraction is 32°, find the refractive index of the
media.
Given:
• Angle of incidence, i = 25°
• Angle of refraction, r = 32°

17. SAMPLE PROBLEM 1B
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑖
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑟
= 𝑛
sin 25
sin 32
= 𝑛
0.423
0.530
= 𝑛
𝑛 = 0.798

18. SAMPLE PROBLEM 1
Light travels from air into an optical fiber
with an index of refraction of 1.44.
(a) In which direction does the light bend?
(b) If the angle of incidence on the end of the
fiber is 22o, what is the angle of refraction
inside the fiber?
(c) Sketch the path of light as it changes media.

19. SAMPLE PROBLEM 1
GIVEN:
𝑛1 = 1.003
𝑛2 = 1.44
θ1 = 22 ̊
UNKNOWN:
θ2 =?
FORMULA:
𝑛1𝑠𝑖𝑛θ1 = 𝑛2𝑠𝑖𝑛θ2

20. SAMPLE PROBLEM 1C
SOLUTION:
1.00 sin 22 ̊
1.44
=
1.44 𝑠𝑖𝑛θ2
1.44
1.00 sin 22 ̊
1.44
= 𝑠𝑖𝑛θ2
0.260143467 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛θ2
θ2 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛−1
(0.260)
θ2 = 15.07857514 ̊
θ2 = 15 ̊

21. SAMPLE PROBLEM 2
Light traveling through an optical fiber (n=1.44)
reaches the end of the fiber and exits into air.
a. In which direction does the light bend?
b. If the angle of incidence on the end of the fiber is
30o, what is the angle of refraction outside the
fiber?
c. Sketch the path of light as it changes media.

22. SAMPLE PROBLEM 2
GIVEN:
𝑛1 = 1.44
𝑛2 = 1.003
θ1 = 30 ̊
UNKNOWN:
θ2 =?
FORMULA:
𝑛1𝑠𝑖𝑛θ1 = 𝑛2𝑠𝑖𝑛θ2

23. SAMPLE PROBLEM 2
SOLUTION:
1.44 sin 30 ̊
1.00
=
1.00 𝑠𝑖𝑛θ2
1.00
1.44 sin 30 ̊
1.00
= 𝑠𝑖𝑛θ2
0.72 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛θ2
θ2 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛−1
(0.72)
θ2 = 46.05448044 ̊
θ2 = 46 ̊

24. 1. A ray of light traveling through air
encounters a body of water at angle of 35°.
a. In which direction does the light bend?
b. What is the angle of refraction in the water?
c. Sketch the path of light as it changes
media.

25. 2. Calculate
the index of
refraction for
medium B.

26. Refraction of Light

27. 1. Calculate the
angle of refraction
in the lower
medium. Write the
given, unknown,
formula, solution
and final answer.

28. 2. A ray of light in air strikes a block of
quartz at an angle of incidence of 30°.
The angle of refraction is 20°. What is
the index of refraction of the quartz?
Sketch the path of light as it changes
media.

29. 3. In an experiment, a block of cubic
zirconia (n=2.16) is placed in water. A laser
beam is passed from the water through the
cubic zirconia. The angle of incidence is
50°, and the angle of refraction is 27°. What
is the index of refraction of this cubic
zirconia?