Refractive index porcine gelatin9/9/2023 ![]() ![]() The second material has an index of refraction n 2 and the speed of light in the material is v 2 (image credit Wikimedia Commons user Oleg Alexandrov). The first material has an index of refraction n 1 and the speed of light in the material is v 1. It passes through the interface and is refracted to angle θ 1 to the normal. An incident light beam approaches the interface between two materials at angle θ 1 to the normal. Definitions of the variables used in Snell's law. n 2 is the index of refraction of the second material (in this project, gelatin)įigure 1.n 1 is the index of refraction of the first material (in this project, air).v 2 is the speed of light in the second material (in this project, gelatin).v 1 is the speed of light in the first material (in this project, air).θ 2 is the angle between the departing light beam and the surface normal.θ 1 is the angle between the incident light beam and the surface normal.Snell's law is expressed as the following equation (see Figure 1 below for an illustration of the variables):Įquation 1: The beauty of this science project also lies in how you can verify one of the most basic laws of optics, experimentally, by using readily available and inexpensive materials. As you apply Snell's law and the definition of index of refraction in this science project, you will be able to measure the speed of light in gelatin. ![]() Snell's law compactly describes what happens to the trajectory of a beam of light as it passes from one medium, such as air, to another, such as glass. For example, before you answer the door and see your friend's face through the window, you see light that is refracted through the glass. The law of refraction, which is also known as Snell's law, actually applies to everyday life. ![]()
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