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Lesson 10 - Refraction
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Objective
Student Notes
In this lesson students will undertake an experimental measurement of the refractive index of glass and/or perspex. The lesson is introduced in its historical context by reference to how the Arabs first described refraction and to the work of Snell and Kepler.
Prescribed Focus Area Skills Development Content

P1 A student outlines the historical development of major principles, concepts and ideas in physics.
P2 … applies the processes that are used to test and validate models, theories and laws of science with particular emphasis on first-hand investigations in physics
P4. … describes applications of physics which affect society or the environment

P12.1 Students perform first-hand investigations
P12.2 … gather first-hand information
P12.4 … process information
P14 … draw valid conclusions from gathered data and information

D4.4 Students learn to explain that refraction is related to the velocities of a wave in different media and outline how this may result in the bending of a wavefront
D4.5 … define refractive index in terms of changes in the velocity of a wave in passing from one medium to another
D4.6 … define Snell’s Law

Activity Resources Homework

A4.3 Perform an investigation and gather information to graph the angle of incidence and refraction for light encountering a medium change showing the relationship between these angles
A4.4 Perform a first-hand investigation and gather information to calculate the refractive index of glass or perspex.
  • Laser or other suitable light source
  • Glass and perspex blocks
  • Protractors
  • Graph paper

 A4.5 Students solve problems and analyse information using Snell’s Law.
Management issues Nominal duration
 
2 hours

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