Teacher Portal
Light
Investigation 4
Investigation 4
Light
Phase 1 – Defined Understanding
Student Guide
Download and Distribute
Access Teacher Guide
Student Guide with answers
Teacher PreLab
Prepare for the Experiment
Phase 2 – Dynamic Understanding
► Investigation Four Summary – Lab Goals
In Investigation Four, you explored refraction, another property of light. During this Investigation, you:
1. Explored refraction through a solid, water, and oil and measured the angles of incidence and angles of refraction.
2. Calculated the Index of Refraction by using the following formula:
► Investigation Four Summary – Learning Goals
Through these experiments, you concluded that:
1. When light passes from one medium to another, the speed of the wavelengths change. This causes the light wave to change directions. This process is called refraction. Each medium changes the speed of light in a particular way. This characteristic of the medium is called its refractive index. Air has a refractive index of 1. The more a medium slows the passage of light, the greater its refractive index, as seen when acrylic was compared to water and oil.
Concept Slides
Launch and Discuss
Mathematics Concepts in This Investigation
- speed in m/s
- place value (ones to hundred millions)
- angles in degrees
- length in cm
- fractions
- estimation
- perpendicular lines
- measuring angles using a protractor
- calculating index of refraction
- multiplication
- division
- manipulating mathematical formulas
- data table
- data analysis
- comparing values/measurable characteristics
- greater than/less than/equal to