Law of reflection, Snell's law, total internal reflection, dispersion, mirrors
How can I study Reflection and Refraction effectively?โพ
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What course covers Reflection and Refraction?โพ
Reflection and Refraction is part of the AP Physics 2 course on Study Mondo, specifically in the Optics section. You can explore the full course for more related topics and practice resources.
Are there practice problems for Reflection and Refraction?
ฮป
frequency
f
c=ฮปf
Visible spectrum: 400 nm (violet) to 700 nm (red)
Law of Reflection
When light reflects from smooth surface:
ฮธiโ=ฮธrโ
Angle of incidence = Angle of reflection
Angles measured from normal (perpendicular to surface).
Virtual: Behind mirror (light doesn't actually go there)
Upright: Same orientation as object
Same size: hiโ=hoโ
Same distance: diโ=doโ (but behind mirror)
Lateral inversion: Left and right reversed (but not up/down!)
Index of Refraction
Speed of light in a material:
v=ncโ
where n is index of refraction (n โฅ 1, dimensionless)
Common values:
Vacuum: n = 1 (exactly)
Air: n โ 1.0003 โ 1
Water: n = 1.33
Glass: n โ 1.5
Diamond: n = 2.42
Higher n โ slower light โ more bending
Snell's Law
When light crosses boundary between media:
n1โsinฮธ1โ=n2โsinฮธ2โ
where:
n1โ, ฮธ1โ = index and angle in medium 1
n2โ, ฮธ2โ = index and angle in medium 2
Angles from normal to surface!
Light entering denser medium (nโ > nโ):
Bends toward normal (ฮธโ < ฮธโ)
Speed decreases, wavelength decreases
Frequency stays same!
Light entering less dense medium (nโ < nโ):
Bends away from normal (ฮธโ > ฮธโ)
Speed increases, wavelength increases
๐ก Mnemonic: Fast โ Slow: toward normal. Slow โ Fast: away from normal.
Total Internal Reflection
When light goes from denser to less dense (nโ > nโ):
If ฮธโ > ฮธ_c (critical angle), light reflects completely back!
Critical angle:sinฮธcโ=n1โn2โโ
(Only exists when nโ > nโ)
Applications:
Fiber optics (light trapped inside fiber)
Diamonds sparkle (n = 2.42 โ small ฮธ_c โ lots of TIR)
Prisms in binoculars
For water-air (nโ = 1.33, nโ = 1):
ฮธcโ=sinโ1(1/1.33)=48.6ยฐ
Dispersion
Different wavelengths have different n (for same material)!
White light โ prism โ spectrum (ROYGBIV)
Violet: higher n โ bends more
Red: lower n โ bends less
Rainbow: Water droplets act as prisms
Refraction entering drop (dispersion)
Reflection inside drop
Refraction exiting drop (more dispersion)
Curved Mirrors
Concave Mirror (converging):
Parallel rays converge at focal point
Focal length: f=R/2 (R = radius of curvature)
Can form real or virtual images
Convex Mirror (diverging):
Parallel rays appear to diverge from focal point behind mirror
f is negative
Always forms virtual, upright, reduced images
Mirror Equation
f1โ=doโ1โ+diโ1โ
where:
f = focal length
doโ = object distance (positive)
diโ = image distance (positive if real, negative if virtual)
Magnification:m=โdoโdiโโ=hoโhiโโ
m>0: upright image
m<0: inverted image
โฃmโฃ>1: enlarged
โฃmโฃ<1: reduced
Sign Conventions (Mirrors)
Quantity
Positive
Negative
f
Concave
Convex
doโ
Real object
(rare)
diโ
Real image (front)
Virtual image (behind)
m
Upright
Inverted
Ray Diagrams (Concave Mirror)
Draw any 2 of these 3 rays:
Parallel ray โ reflects through F
Focal ray (through F) โ reflects parallel
Center ray (through C) โ reflects back on itself
Where rays intersect = image location!
Problem-Solving Strategy
Snell's Law:
Draw diagram with normal
Identify nโ, ฮธโ, nโ
Apply: n1โsinฮธ1โ=n2โsinฮธ2โ
Check for TIR if going to less dense medium
Mirrors:
Identify f (positive for concave, negative for convex)
Use mirror equation: 1/f=1/doโ+1/diโ
Find magnification: m=โdiโ/doโ
Interpret signs
Common Mistakes
โ Measuring angles from surface instead of normal
โ Forgetting to check for total internal reflection
โ Wrong sign for f (convex mirrors have negative f!)
โ Confusing d_i sign (positive = real/front, negative = virtual/behind)
โ Thinking frequency changes during refraction (only v and ฮป change!)
โ Using degrees instead of checking calculator mode
Check: Entering denser medium (nโ > nโ), so bends toward normal. โ
ฮธโ = 22.1ยฐ < ฮธโ = 30ยฐ โ
Answer: ฮธโ = 22.1ยฐ (bends toward normal)
2Problem 2easy
โ Question:
Light travels from air (n = 1.00) into water (n = 1.33) at an angle of 30ยฐ from the normal. What is the angle of refraction?
๐ก Show Solution
Given:
Medium 1 (air): n1โ=1.00
Medium 2 (water): n2โ=1.33
Incident angle: ฮธ1โ=30ยฐ
Solution:
Apply Snell's Law:
n1โsinฮธ1โ=n2โ
Check: Entering denser medium (nโ > nโ), so bends toward normal. โ
ฮธโ = 22.1ยฐ < ฮธโ = 30ยฐ โ
Answer: ฮธโ = 22.1ยฐ (bends toward normal)
3Problem 3easy
โ Question:
Light travels from air (n = 1.00) into water (n = 1.33) at an angle of 30ยฐ from the normal. What is the angle of refraction?
๐ก Show Solution
Given:
Medium 1 (air): n1โ=1.00
Medium 2 (water): n2โ=1.33
Incident angle: ฮธ1โ=30ยฐ
Solution:
Apply Snell's Law:
n1โsinฮธ1โ=n2โ
Check: Entering denser medium (nโ > nโ), so bends toward normal. โ
ฮธโ = 22.1ยฐ < ฮธโ = 30ยฐ โ
Answer: ฮธโ = 22.1ยฐ (bends toward normal)
4Problem 4easy
โ Question:
Light travels from air (n = 1.00) into water (n = 1.33) at an angle of 30ยฐ from the normal. What is the angle of refraction?
๐ก Show Solution
Given:
Medium 1 (air): n1โ=1.00
Medium 2 (water): n2โ=1.33
Incident angle: ฮธ1โ=30ยฐ
Solution:
Apply Snell's Law:
n1โsinฮธ1โ=n2โ
Check: Entering denser medium (nโ > nโ), so bends toward normal. โ
ฮธโ = 22.1ยฐ < ฮธโ = 30ยฐ โ
Answer: ฮธโ = 22.1ยฐ (bends toward normal)
5Problem 5easy
โ Question:
Light travels from air (n = 1.00) into water (n = 1.33) at an angle of 30ยฐ from the normal. What is the angle of refraction?
๐ก Show Solution
Given:
Medium 1 (air): n1โ=1.00
Medium 2 (water): n2โ=1.33
Incident angle: ฮธ1โ=30ยฐ
Solution:
Apply Snell's Law:
n1โsinฮธ1โ=n2โ
Check: Entering denser medium (nโ > nโ), so bends toward normal. โ
ฮธโ = 22.1ยฐ < ฮธโ = 30ยฐ โ
Answer: ฮธโ = 22.1ยฐ (bends toward normal)
6Problem 6easy
โ Question:
Light travels from air (n = 1.00) into water (n = 1.33) at an angle of 30ยฐ from the normal. What is the angle of refraction?
๐ก Show Solution
Given:
Medium 1 (air): n1โ=1.00
Medium 2 (water): n2โ=1.33
Incident angle: ฮธ1โ=30ยฐ
Solution:
Apply Snell's Law:
n1โsinฮธ1โ=n2โ
Check: Entering denser medium (nโ > nโ), so bends toward normal. โ
ฮธโ = 22.1ยฐ < ฮธโ = 30ยฐ โ
Answer: ฮธโ = 22.1ยฐ (bends toward normal)
7Problem 7medium
โ Question:
What is the critical angle for light going from glass (n = 1.50) to air (n = 1.00)? What happens at 45ยฐ incidence?
๐ก Show Solution
Given:
Medium 1 (glass): n1โ=1.50
Medium 2 (air): n2โ=1.00
Part 1: Critical angle
sinฮธcโ=n1โ
Part 2: At 45ยฐ incidence
Since 45ยฐ>ฮธcโ=41.8ยฐ, we have total internal reflection!
Light reflects completely back into glass. No refraction into air.
Answer:
Critical angle: ฮธ_c = 41.8ยฐ
At 45ยฐ: Total internal reflection (no light exits to air)
This is why fiber optic cables work - light trapped inside!
8Problem 8medium
โ Question:
What is the critical angle for light going from glass (n = 1.50) to air (n = 1.00)? What happens at 45ยฐ incidence?
๐ก Show Solution
Given:
Medium 1 (glass): n1โ=1.50
Medium 2 (air): n2โ=1.00
Part 1: Critical angle
sinฮธcโ=n1โ
Part 2: At 45ยฐ incidence
Since 45ยฐ>ฮธcโ=41.8ยฐ, we have total internal reflection!
Light reflects completely back into glass. No refraction into air.
Answer:
Critical angle: ฮธ_c = 41.8ยฐ
At 45ยฐ: Total internal reflection (no light exits to air)
This is why fiber optic cables work - light trapped inside!
9Problem 9medium
โ Question:
What is the critical angle for light going from glass (n = 1.50) to air (n = 1.00)? What happens at 45ยฐ incidence?
๐ก Show Solution
Given:
Medium 1 (glass): n1โ=1.50
Medium 2 (air): n2โ=1.00
Part 1: Critical angle
sinฮธcโ=n1โ
Part 2: At 45ยฐ incidence
Since 45ยฐ>ฮธcโ=41.8ยฐ, we have total internal reflection!
Light reflects completely back into glass. No refraction into air.
Answer:
Critical angle: ฮธ_c = 41.8ยฐ
At 45ยฐ: Total internal reflection (no light exits to air)
This is why fiber optic cables work - light trapped inside!
10Problem 10medium
โ Question:
What is the critical angle for light going from glass (n = 1.50) to air (n = 1.00)? What happens at 45ยฐ incidence?
๐ก Show Solution
Given:
Medium 1 (glass): n1โ=1.50
Medium 2 (air): n2โ=1.00
Part 1: Critical angle
sinฮธcโ=n1โ
Part 2: At 45ยฐ incidence
Since 45ยฐ>ฮธcโ=41.8ยฐ, we have total internal reflection!
Light reflects completely back into glass. No refraction into air.
Answer:
Critical angle: ฮธ_c = 41.8ยฐ
At 45ยฐ: Total internal reflection (no light exits to air)
This is why fiber optic cables work - light trapped inside!
11Problem 11medium
โ Question:
What is the critical angle for light going from glass (n = 1.50) to air (n = 1.00)? What happens at 45ยฐ incidence?
๐ก Show Solution
Given:
Medium 1 (glass): n1โ=1.50
Medium 2 (air): n2โ=1.00
Part 1: Critical angle
sinฮธcโ=n1โ
Part 2: At 45ยฐ incidence
Since 45ยฐ>ฮธcโ=41.8ยฐ, we have total internal reflection!
Light reflects completely back into glass. No refraction into air.
Answer:
Critical angle: ฮธ_c = 41.8ยฐ
At 45ยฐ: Total internal reflection (no light exits to air)
This is why fiber optic cables work - light trapped inside!
12Problem 12medium
โ Question:
What is the critical angle for light going from glass (n = 1.50) to air (n = 1.00)? What happens at 45ยฐ incidence?
๐ก Show Solution
Given:
Medium 1 (glass): n1โ=1.50
Medium 2 (air): n2โ=1.00
Part 1: Critical angle
sinฮธcโ=n1โ
Part 2: At 45ยฐ incidence
Since 45ยฐ>ฮธcโ=41.8ยฐ, we have total internal reflection!
Light reflects completely back into glass. No refraction into air.
Answer:
Critical angle: ฮธ_c = 41.8ยฐ
At 45ยฐ: Total internal reflection (no light exits to air)
This is why fiber optic cables work - light trapped inside!
13Problem 13medium
โ Question:
Light travels from air (n = 1.00) into water (n = 1.33) at an incident angle of 40ยฐ. (a) What is the angle of refraction? (b) What is the speed of light in water? (c) Does the wavelength increase or decrease? Use c = 3.0 ร 10โธ m/s.
๐ก Show Solution
Solution:
Given: nโ = 1.00, nโ = 1.33, ฮธโ = 40ยฐ, c = 3.0 ร 10โธ m/s
(a) Angle of refraction (Snell's Law):
nโ sin ฮธโ = nโ sin ฮธโ
(1.00) sin 40ยฐ = (1.33) sin ฮธโ
0.643 = 1.33 sin ฮธโ
sin ฮธโ = 0.483
ฮธโ = 28.9ยฐ or 29ยฐ
Light bends toward the normal entering denser medium.
(b) Speed in water:
v = c/n = (3.0 ร 10โธ)/1.33 = 2.26 ร 10โธ m/s
(c) Wavelength change:
ฮป = v/f, and frequency f is constant
ฮปโ/ฮปโ = vโ/vโ = 1/nโ = 1/1.33 = 0.75
Wavelength decreases to 75% of its value in air.
14Problem 14hard
โ Question:
A concave mirror has focal length 20 cm. An object is placed 60 cm from the mirror. Find (a) image distance, (b) magnification, (c) describe the image.
๐ก Show Solution
Given:
Focal length: f=20 cm (positive for concave)
Object distance: doโ=60 cm
Part (a): Image distance
Mirror equation:
f1โ=doโ
Part (b): Magnification
m=โdoโdiโ
Part (c): Image description
diโ>0: Real image (in front of mirror)
m<0: Inverted
: (half size)
Answer:
(a) d_i = 30 cm (in front)
(b) m = -0.50
(c) Real, inverted, reduced to half size
15Problem 15hard
โ Question:
A concave mirror has focal length 20 cm. An object is placed 60 cm from the mirror. Find (a) image distance, (b) magnification, (c) describe the image.
๐ก Show Solution
Given:
Focal length: f=20 cm (positive for concave)
Object distance: doโ=60 cm
Part (a): Image distance
Mirror equation:
f1โ=doโ
Part (b): Magnification
m=โdoโdiโ
Part (c): Image description
diโ>0: Real image (in front of mirror)
m<0: Inverted
: (half size)
Answer:
(a) d_i = 30 cm (in front)
(b) m = -0.50
(c) Real, inverted, reduced to half size
16Problem 16hard
โ Question:
A concave mirror has focal length 20 cm. An object is placed 60 cm from the mirror. Find (a) image distance, (b) magnification, (c) describe the image.
๐ก Show Solution
Given:
Focal length: f=20 cm (positive for concave)
Object distance: doโ=60 cm
Part (a): Image distance
Mirror equation:
f1โ=doโ
Part (b): Magnification
m=โdoโdiโ
Part (c): Image description
diโ>0: Real image (in front of mirror)
m<0: Inverted
: (half size)
Answer:
(a) d_i = 30 cm (in front)
(b) m = -0.50
(c) Real, inverted, reduced to half size
17Problem 17hard
โ Question:
Light in a glass fiber (n = 1.50) strikes the glass-air boundary at 50ยฐ. (a) Will total internal reflection occur? (b) What is the critical angle for this fiber? Use n_air = 1.00.
๐ก Show Solution
Solution:
Given: n_glass = 1.50, n_air = 1.00, ฮธ = 50ยฐ
(a) Will TIR occur?
First find critical angle: nโ sin ฮธ_c = nโ sin 90ยฐ
(1.50) sin ฮธ_c = (1.00)(1)
sin ฮธ_c = 1/1.50 = 0.667
ฮธ_c = 41.8ยฐ
Since ฮธ = 50ยฐ > ฮธ_c = 41.8ยฐ, YES, total internal reflection occurs.
For angles greater than 42ยฐ, all light is reflected (this is how fiber optics work!).
18Problem 18hard
โ Question:
A concave mirror has focal length 20 cm. An object is placed 60 cm from the mirror. Find (a) image distance, (b) magnification, (c) describe the image.
๐ก Show Solution
Given:
Focal length: f=20 cm (positive for concave)
Object distance: doโ=60 cm
Part (a): Image distance
Mirror equation:
f1โ=doโ
Part (b): Magnification
m=โdoโdiโ
Part (c): Image description
diโ>0: Real image (in front of mirror)
m<0: Inverted
: (half size)
Answer:
(a) d_i = 30 cm (in front)
(b) m = -0.50
(c) Real, inverted, reduced to half size
19Problem 19hard
โ Question:
A concave mirror has focal length 20 cm. An object is placed 60 cm from the mirror. Find (a) image distance, (b) magnification, (c) describe the image.
๐ก Show Solution
Given:
Focal length: f=20 cm (positive for concave)
Object distance: doโ=60 cm
Part (a): Image distance
Mirror equation:
f1โ=doโ
Part (b): Magnification
m=โdoโdiโ
Part (c): Image description
diโ>0: Real image (in front of mirror)
m<0: Inverted
: (half size)
Answer:
(a) d_i = 30 cm (in front)
(b) m = -0.50
(c) Real, inverted, reduced to half size
20Problem 20hard
โ Question:
A concave mirror has focal length 20 cm. An object is placed 60 cm from the mirror. Find (a) image distance, (b) magnification, (c) describe the image.
๐ก Show Solution
Given:
Focal length: f=20 cm (positive for concave)
Object distance: doโ=60 cm
Part (a): Image distance
Mirror equation:
f1โ=doโ
Part (b): Magnification
m=โdoโdiโ
Part (c): Image description
diโ>0: Real image (in front of mirror)
m<0: Inverted
: (half size)
Answer:
(a) d_i = 30 cm (in front)
(b) m = -0.50
(c) Real, inverted, reduced to half size
โพ
Yes, this page includes 20 practice problems with detailed solutions. Each problem includes a step-by-step explanation to help you understand the approach.