Refraction in Everyday Life

IV. Application
  1. How do layers of air with different temperatures refract sound?

  2. How could early Arctic explorers use refraction see beyond the curvature of the Earth?

  3. How does a prism break up white light into a spectrum of color?

  4. Make a table of angles in air and angles in water (n air = 1.0 and n water = 1.33).
    1. Assume a fish is under water. As the fish moves, light travels different paths to reach your eye.
      These angles are measured from the perpendicular to the surface of the water. What is angle of refraction in air?

      Angle in water

      Angle in air

      15

      		  

      30

      		  

      45

      		  

      60

      		  

      75

      		  

    2. Do objects in water appear higher or lower in the water than they really are?
      Sketch the rays for this.

    3. Did you find any angles where the light did not escape to the air?
    4. That is Total Internal Reflection. How is this used in fiber optics?

    5. Assume the object is in the air. For each angle, at what angle does the fish see it? (Again, the angles are measured from straight up.)

      Angle in water

      Angle in air
       

      15
       

      30
       

      45
       

      60
       

      75

    6. Why don't fish have necks??!
      (See Fish-eye view.)

    Review Refraction Explanations.
    Index for Refraction.
    Andria Erzberger
    2/1/01