Practical Experiment
- Light Waves: Reflection and Refraction.
Background information.
As we know, light travels from one place to another as waves. We can use equipment such as a light box kit to investigate how light waves interact when reflecting and refracting. Light box kits contain concave (curved inwards) objects, convex (curved outwards) objects, prisms and planes that can be used to demonstrate how light is reflected or refracted.
Name: Monique Babic
Partners: Isabella z, Isabella y, Natalie f
Aim: To investigate how light rays reflect and refract.
Hypothesis: The light rays will split when prisms are put in their way. The light waves will reflect of the mirrors.
Materials:
- Light box kit
- Convex and concave lenses
- Prisms and planes
- Battery pack
- White A4 paper
Method:
1.Set up of light box kit.
2.Connect your light box to your battery pack as shown by your teacher
3.Place the black plastic light distributor down with the single open shaft facing downwards.
4.Place a sheet of white paper down in front of the light box.
5.Choose a coloured square of your choice.
6.Close the sides of the box making sure no light escapes.
Experiment 1.
Place a concave mirror in front of the light box and fill in the table below.
Flip over the concave mirror so it faces backwards and fill in the table below.
Place down the plane mirror so that it faces the light box and fill in the table below.
Experiment 2.
Place the concave lense in front of the light box (on the horizontal) and fill in the table below.
Place the convex lense in front of the light box (on the horizontal) and fill in the table below.
Place down the rectangular plane in front of the light box (on the diagonal) and fill in the table below.
Place the prism in front of the light box and fill in the table below.
Experiment 3.
Start with a convex lens and hold it close to your eye. Slowly move the lense away from your face until your arm is completed outstretched. Record what you see in the space below.
Repeat the action for concave lenses and describe the difference between the two lenses.
Results:
Experiment 1.
Experiment 2.
- Light Waves: Reflection and Refraction.
Background information.
As we know, light travels from one place to another as waves. We can use equipment such as a light box kit to investigate how light waves interact when reflecting and refracting. Light box kits contain concave (curved inwards) objects, convex (curved outwards) objects, prisms and planes that can be used to demonstrate how light is reflected or refracted.
Name: Monique Babic
Partners: Isabella z, Isabella y, Natalie f
Aim: To investigate how light rays reflect and refract.
Hypothesis: The light rays will split when prisms are put in their way. The light waves will reflect of the mirrors.
Materials:
- Light box kit
- Convex and concave lenses
- Prisms and planes
- Battery pack
- White A4 paper
Method:
1.Set up of light box kit.
2.Connect your light box to your battery pack as shown by your teacher
3.Place the black plastic light distributor down with the single open shaft facing downwards.
4.Place a sheet of white paper down in front of the light box.
5.Choose a coloured square of your choice.
6.Close the sides of the box making sure no light escapes.
Experiment 1.
Place a concave mirror in front of the light box and fill in the table below.
Flip over the concave mirror so it faces backwards and fill in the table below.
Place down the plane mirror so that it faces the light box and fill in the table below.
Experiment 2.
Place the concave lense in front of the light box (on the horizontal) and fill in the table below.
Place the convex lense in front of the light box (on the horizontal) and fill in the table below.
Place down the rectangular plane in front of the light box (on the diagonal) and fill in the table below.
Place the prism in front of the light box and fill in the table below.
Experiment 3.
Start with a convex lens and hold it close to your eye. Slowly move the lense away from your face until your arm is completed outstretched. Record what you see in the space below.
Repeat the action for concave lenses and describe the difference between the two lenses.
Results:
Experiment 1.
Experiment 2.
Discussion:
Question 1: Describe the difference between reflection and refraction based on what you saw in your results.
Reflection bounces off and refraction goes through and is transparent and makes the rays go different places. Reflection bends the rays and refraction focuses the rays so that they have a focal point.
Question 2: Describe the effect concave and convex lenses have on the light that passes through them.
Concave keeps the rays together while convex makes the rays go in different directions.
Question 3. Does the distance from the object alter the way the light bends? Explain your response.
Yes as it determines the focal point depending on how close the object is to the light.
Question 4. The following image demonstrates what feature of light waves and why?
Reflection because the rays are bouncing off the mirror and are going at the same angle.
Question 1: Describe the difference between reflection and refraction based on what you saw in your results.
Reflection bounces off and refraction goes through and is transparent and makes the rays go different places. Reflection bends the rays and refraction focuses the rays so that they have a focal point.
Question 2: Describe the effect concave and convex lenses have on the light that passes through them.
Concave keeps the rays together while convex makes the rays go in different directions.
Question 3. Does the distance from the object alter the way the light bends? Explain your response.
Yes as it determines the focal point depending on how close the object is to the light.
Question 4. The following image demonstrates what feature of light waves and why?
Reflection because the rays are bouncing off the mirror and are going at the same angle.
Conclusion: (summarise the experiment, refer to and describe results, state if the hypothesis was support or not and why and acknowledge any errors made and how they could have impacted results).
According to the experiment results, the hypothesis of the practical was correct. When adding prisms in the lights way, the light split into different sections. The aim, was also successful, and the records of the refection and refractions were written down and compared. Once getting the hang of it, it was easy to define if t were a reflection or refraction, such as the first example, the rays bounced from the mirror and back, which meant reflection. When writing down the reflection or refraction, it was confusing but eventually was achieved so that the results were correct. This did have an impact on the results although the problem was fixed. The practical was successful and the aim was fulfilled with ease.
According to the experiment results, the hypothesis of the practical was correct. When adding prisms in the lights way, the light split into different sections. The aim, was also successful, and the records of the refection and refractions were written down and compared. Once getting the hang of it, it was easy to define if t were a reflection or refraction, such as the first example, the rays bounced from the mirror and back, which meant reflection. When writing down the reflection or refraction, it was confusing but eventually was achieved so that the results were correct. This did have an impact on the results although the problem was fixed. The practical was successful and the aim was fulfilled with ease.