Reflection and refraction - Lab Report Example

Reflection and Refraction in Physics Reflection and refraction aid in understanding the behavior of light as it travels through different mediums. Reflection occurs when a wave changes direction at the interface that exits between two media (Ostdiek and Bord 382). The change in direction makes it possible for the wave to return to the medium from where it originated. The popular examples include the reflection of water, light and sound waves. On the other hand, refraction refers to the change in the direction as the waves pass from one medium to the next (Strong 8).

The change in direction that occurs in refraction facilitates a change in the wavelength and speed of the wave. Fig I: Reflection Fig 2: Refraction The diagrams demonstrate the concept of reflection and refraction. In the diagram above, a light ray strikes the mirror at a specific point, and the reflected ray is projected. The law of reflection state that the angle of incidence (i) and the angle of reflection (r ) are equal.

The experiment demonstrated specular reflection because it involved the use of smooth surfaces to demonstrated the behavior of light waves. The experiment aided in confirming the three laws of reflection (Strong 8), which include:The normal to the reflection, reflected ray and incident ray lie on the same plane.The angle between the reflected ray and the normal must be equal to the angle between the incident ray and the normal.The incident ray and reflected ray lie on the opposite sides of the normal.

The confirmation of the laws of reflection involved tracing the line of the incident ray and the reflected ray. The refraction experiment involved the observation of how light waves behave as they travel through air and water. Generally, the incident ray is partially reflected and refracted. Theoretically, the concept of refraction is explained Snell’s law, which states that the ratio of the sines of the angle of reflection and the angle of reflection are equivalent to the ratio produced by the phase velocities in the two media in which the wave travels (Dekker 168).

The change in the direction as light travels from one medium to the next was observed when the straight pencil observed in water appeared bent at the water surface. The pencil was placed in a slanted position because refraction cannot occur if the angle of incidence is zero degrees. The pencil appeared slant as shown in Fig 2 because the light rays bend as they pass from air into water. The speed and wavelength of the light rays changed while the frequency was constant. When the bent rays reach the eye, they are interpreted as straight lines of sight.

The straight lines of sight interpreted by the eye intersect at a position that is higher than the actual origin the rays. Thus, the water appears shallow and pencil much higher than its original depth. The behavior of light in different media is explained by the refractive index. Reflection and refraction concepts have been applied in the field of thin film optics, x-ray technology, and optometry. The behavior of light waves when it hits a material denser that the external medium has been used in the thin film optics technology.

Reflection and refraction are common occurrences. It affects the behavior all waves with the most common occurrences noted in sound, water and light waves. Works CitedDekker, John. Physical Layer Concepts. MTH Publishing, 2014. Print.Ostdiek, Vern J and Donald J Bord. Inquiry into Physics. Belmont, CA: Thomson Brooks/Cole, 2008. Print.Strong, John. Concepts of Classical Optics. Mineola, N.Y.: Dover Publications, 2012. Print.