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Spherical Mirrors & Index of Refraction
BlackBoard Notes

 

  • Use ray tracing to find focal length & location of image for a spherical mirror.
  • Measure index of refraction & critical angle for glass.

  • Plane Mirror:

  • Spherical mirror:

    Calculating f

  • Location of image: Concave mirror

    Concave Mirror

  • Location of image: Convex mirror

    Convex Mirror

  • Refraction: Snell's Law

    n1 sinθ1 = n2 sinθ2

    where n = c/v

    (c = s.o.l. in vacuum; v = s.o.l. in material)

  • Index of refraction:

    Refraction
    • Ray traveling from lower to higher n; refracted ray bends towards Normal. Travel from higher to lower n, refracted ray bends away.

  • Critical angle:

    Refraction
    • Ray traveling from higher to lower n; there is some critical angle of incidence (θ1) where θ2 = 90°. At greater angles: Total internal reflection

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    © St. Lawrence University Department of Physics
    Revised: 01 Jun 09 Canton, NY 13617