A student carries out an investigation into the reflection and refraction of light with a semi-circular glass block.
• He puts a glass block on a sheet of paper.
• He traces the outline of the block with a pencil.
• He uses a ray box to send a ray of light to the centre C of the flat face AB of the block.
• He marks AB and point C.
Fig. 3.1 shows the observation made by the student.
• He uses a pencil to put two crosses $X_1$ and $X_2$ on the incident ray.
• He uses a pencil to put two crosses $X_3$ and $X_4$ on the emergent ray.
• He uses a pencil to put two crosses $X_5$ and $X_6$ on the ray reflected from the face AB.
• He removes the glass block and the ray box.
Fig. 3.2 shows the student’s sheet of paper.
(a)[1]
Construct the normal to the surface of the glass block at C.
(b)[1]
1. Join $X_1$ to $X_2$ with a line. Extend it to C.
2. Join $X_4$ to $X_3$ with a line. Extend it to C.
3. Join $X_6$ to $X_5$ with a line. Extend it to C.
(c(i))[1]
Measure the angle of incidence $i$ of the light ray on face AB.
(c(ii))[1]
Measure the angle of refraction $r$ at point C for this ray.
(d)[1]
Calculate the refractive index $n$ of the glass. Use the equation shown.
$n = \frac{\sin i}{\sin r}$
(e)[1]
Measure the angle of reflection $R$ from face AB. The angle of incidence $i$ should be the same as the angle of reflection $R$. State one practical reason why the angles $i$ and $R$ that you measured may not be equal.