Plastic index of refraction
Experiment
1. Place the solid plastic semi-circle on paper and shine the laser
through the plastic at an angle, close to the center of the flat side.
2. Now record on the paper the laser beam positions and the
semi-circle position. Include also the reflected beam as well as the beam that
passes through the plastic.
Analysis
- On the paper, sketch/label in details such as incident, reflected and refracted beams.
Outline/label the plastic semi-circle. Make it obvious on the paper what was happening.
- Measure the angles of refraction with a protractor on the paper sketch
- Determine the index of refraction for the plastic.
Questions
- How exact can you measure angles in this experiment.
- How exact is your sketch in noting beam positions. Relate this to an uncertainty in
angular measurements.
