Refraction Notes

The Refraction Interactive is an adjustable-size file that displays nicely on smart phones, on tablets such as the iPad, on Chromebooks, and on laptops and desktops. The size of the Interactive can be scaled to fit the device that it is displayed on. The compatibility with smart phones, iPads, other tablets, and Chromebooks make it a perfect tool for use in a 1:1 classroom.

This Interactive is intended for use at any stage of a learning cycle on refraction. The Interactive lends itself to both quantitative and qualitative studies. The Interactive provides a sturdy exposure to concepts such as the direction of bending, the effect of angle on the amount of deviation from the original light path, the effect of incident angle upon the proportion of reflection and refraction, the nature of total internal reflection, etc. The Interactive also allows one to investigate quantitative relationships such as Snell's Law, the effect of indices of refraction upon the critical angle, etc. The Physics Classroom has provided three different activity sheets as examples of how the Interactive might be used.
 

The first activity sheet provided by The Physics Classroom provides learners with an inquiry-based activity. Several questions are presented and learners must determine a procedure for answering them. Variables must be controlled; others must be altered; observations and measurements must be made. Data must be collected and organized. And finally, learners can answer the question using the format of a claim (answer), evidence (references to collected data) and reasoning (use of logic to explain how the evidence supports the claim). It is not recommended that you assign every question to each student. It is advisable to select the questions that fit best with the course curriculum and philosophy.

The second activity sheet focuses the learner's efforts on understanding the dual behavior of reflection and refraction at the boundary between two materials. Learners investigate the effect of the angle of incidence upon both the angle of refraction and the relative brightness of the reflected and refracted rays. Learners recognize that increasing the angle of incidence causes an increase in the brightness of the reflected ray and a decrease in the brightness of the refracted ray. The activity also has the learner explore the conditions under which incident light will undergo total internal reflection.

The third activity sheet represents the use of the Interactive in more quantitative way. The Physics Classroom recommends that the hands-on version of this lab be performed if the materials are readily available. If they are not, this Interactive may be the next best way of approaching Snell's Law using data-collection and analysis. This second activity sheet also makes for a great makeup-lab for those students that missed the hands-on version of it.



Our Refraction simulation is now available with two Concept Checkers - one focuses on refraction and the direction of bending; it complements Activity #1 (above). The other focuses on total internal reflection and the critical angle; it complements Activity #3 (above). Do the simulation. Then follow it up with the Concept Checkers:

• Refraction Concept Checker (based on Activity #1)
   
• Total Internal Reflection Concept Checker (based on Activity #3)

There are numerous resources at The Physics Classroom website that serve as very complementary supports for the Refraction Interactive. These include:

Additional resources and ideas for incorporating the Refraction Interactive into an instructional unit on Refraction and Reflection can be found at the Teacher Toolkits section of The Physics Classroom website. Visit Teacher Toolkits.