DATE:NAME:CLASS:
TOPIC 3 /Refraction
/ BLM 3-10SCIENCE INQUIRY
Goal•Review how light bends when it travels from one material to another.
Introduction
When light moves from one medium (such as air) to another (such as water), it bends. This is called refraction. The light bends because it changes speed when it moves between materials that have different densities.
What to Do
Answer each question in the space provided.
- The diagrams below illustrate refraction. In (a), for example, the light ray travels through the air and enters the glass. In (b), the light ray travels up from the water and enters the air. For each, diagram, draw the normal line at the point of contact. Measure and label the angle of incidence and the angle of refraction. Then complete the sentences that follow from the choices in parentheses.
(a)air to glass
The angle in the air is ______(greater/less) than the angle in the glass.
The light entering the glass bends ______(toward/away from) the normal line.
(b)water to air
The angle in the air is ______(greater/less) than the angle in the water.
The light entering the water bends ______(toward/away from) the normal line.
DATE:NAME:CLASS:
TOPIC 3 /Refraction (continued)
/ BLM 3-10SCIENCE INQUIRY
(c)air to water
The angle in the air is ______(greater/less) than the angle in the water.
The light entering the air bends ______(toward/away from) the normal line.
(d)transparent plastic to air
The angle in the air is ______(greater/less) than the angle in the plastic.
The light entering the air bends ______(toward/away from) the normal line.
- Use the terms below to complete the sentences that follow. If necessary, you may use a
term more than once.
greater thantoward
less thanaway from
When light refracts, the angle in the air is always ______the angle in the other
substance. Light entering the other substances bends ______the normal line.
Light leaving a substance and entering the air bends ______the normal line.
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