Understanding Reflection and Refraction of Light in Concave

and Convex Mirror

Chris Dominique D. Enriquez1 , Deus Lean B. Grafane2 , Kit Orlan Lemuel C. Nacion3*, Jennifer A.
Matabang4 , Marelle Anne Montalla5 , Dianne Joy Cathyrine V. Sanchez6 , Alethea Diana P. Villa7
1
Department of Industrial Engineering, CEAT UP Los Baos
2
Department of Electrical Engineering, CEAT, UP Los Baos
3
Department of Civil Engineering, CEAT UP Los Baos
4
Department of Industrial Engineering, CEAT, UP Los Baos
5
Department of Industrial Engineering, CEAT, UP Los Baos
6
Department of Civil Engineering, CEAT, Up Los Baos
7
Department of Industrial Engineering, CEAT, UP Los Baos
*Corresponding author:

Abstract
The experiment focused on the geometric interpretations of the behavior of a
ray of light reflected by different kinds of mirror and refracted between two
different media having its own index of refraction. Reflection and refraction
was done in the experiment through measuring the focal length and radius of
curvature using concave and convex mirrors; index of refraction, angle of
incidence and reflection. Moreover, critical angle at which the total internal
reflection occurs using an acrylic trapezoid were also determined in this
experiment. The data verified the Snell`s law as well as the total internal
reflection. Some errors were minimal but these were primarily due to the
limitations of light-source box and human errors on measurements such as in
protractor.
Keywords: Snells Law, index of refraction, focal length, radius of
curvature, angle of incidence

Introduction
Light is reflected when there is an abrupt change in the direction of a wave that strikes the boundary
between two different media.
i = r
(2)
On the other hand, refraction happens when there is a change in direction of propagation of a wave
hen the wave passes two different mediums. Refraction can also be observed when light partly transmitted
into a transparent object. The reason behind this is that, transparent objects have a property called index of
refraction or refractive index which is denoted by n where,
n=c/v

(3)

There are three laws that govern reflection and refraction: (1) the incident, reflected, and refracted
rays and the normal to the surface all lie in the same plane, (2) the angle of reflection r is equal to the angle
of incidence a for all wavelengths and for any pair of materials, and (3) the Snells law which states that
the ratio of the sines of the angles a and b, where both angles are measured from the normal to the surface,
is equal to the inverse ratio of the two indexes of refraction:
nasin a = nbsin b
(4)

Methodology
The experiment was divided into four parts: getting the angle of reflected ray with corresponding angle
of incident ray, getting the focal length in concave and convex mirror, getting the angle of refraction in an

acrylic trapezoid, and getting the critical angle in total internal reflection. The materials used in the
experiment were light source, mirror and trapezoid from Ray Optics Kit, drawing compass, protractor,
metric ruler, and white paper.
In the first part of the experiment, the light source in ray-box mode, set as a single ray, was placed on a
blank sheet of paper. Then, the surface of the mirror was placed in the path of the incident ray at an angle
that allows seeing the incident and reflected rays. After seeing clearly both the incident and reflected ray,
the surface of the plane mirror together with the incident and reflected rays were traced and labeled. The
light source and the mirror were removed from the paper then the normal to the surface was drawn, shown
in Figure 9.1. The angle of incidence and angle of reflection were measured. The methods were repeated
with different corresponding angle of incidence. After the methods were repeated, the wheel of the light
source was turned in order to generate three primary color rays. The position of the surface of the plane and
the mirror was traced together with the incident and reflected rays with corresponding direction and color
indication.

Figure 9.1. Angle measurement for reflection in a plane mirror

After the use of three primary color rays, the light source was set to have five parallel rays, which was
used in the second part of the experiment. The five parallel rays were directed towards the concave mirror,
shown in Figure 9.2. Then, the surface of the mirror, incident and reflected rays were traced in the surface
together with its direction whether it was incoming or outgoing. The focal point was marked and the focal
length was measured. The compass was used to draw a circle that can match the curvature of the mirror,
and then the radius of curvature was recorded. The steps were repeated using the convex mirror.
Figure 9.2. Parallel rays incident to a curved mirror.

For the third part of the experiment, the light source in ray box mode was set to single ray. The light
source was placed on a blank sheet of paper. The trapezoid was position on the paper so that the ray passes
through the parallel sides of the trapezoid as shown in Figure 9.3. The position of the parallel surfaces of
the trapezoid were marked then the incident and transmitted rays were traced. The arrows were used to
indicate the proper direction of incoming and outgoing rays. The rays that enter and leave the trapezoid
were marked. After the rays were marked, the points were the rays entered and left were connected. The
normal to the surface was drawn either in the point where the rays entered or left. The angle of incidence
and angle of refraction were measured. The process was repeated three times with different angle of
incidence.

Figure 9.3. Refraction of light in an acrylic trapezoid.

The set-up for the light source was the same in the fourth part of the experiment. The light source was
placed on a blank sheet of paper. The trapezoid was positioned with the ray entering the trapezoid at least 2
cm from the tip, shown in Figure 9.4a. The trapezoid was rotated until the emerging ray barely disappeared.
When the trapezoid was completely positioned, the surfaces of the trapezoid and the point on the surface
where the ray is internally reflected were marked exactly. The rays that are incident upon and reflected
from the inside surface of the trapezoid were drawn as the trapezoid was removed, shown in Figure 9.4b.
The angle between the rays was measured. The critical angle was calculated using the Snells law and
index of refraction for acrylic. After the critical angle was calculated, the percent difference between
measured and theoretical values was computed.
Results and Discussion
Table 9.1 Measured angle of reflection for different angles of incidence
Angle of Incidence
(degrees)
20
20
20
20
20

Angle of Reflection
(degrees)
20
20
20
20
20

Illustration of Reflection
Whenever a light hits a surface that is capable of producing the lights reflection, the lights behavior is east
to determine. We first take a look on the illustration above that explains reflection of light. The incoming
ray of light from the light source is called incident ray while the reflected light by the surface is called
reflected ray (1). The incident rayt in the illustration is denoted by I while the reflected ray is denoted by R.
According to the Law of Reflection, the angle of the incidence, which is angle of incident ray with respect
to the line normal of the surface, is also equal to angle of reflection light with respect to the line normal.
incident = reflected
(1)
In the results of hitting the five rays of light on flat glass surface, we can have observed that the five rays of
light have the same angle for both reflected and incident light thus following the law of reflection

Table 10.3. Angles of refraction in an acrylic trapezoid for different angles of incidence.
Angle of Incidence
Angle of Refraction
Experimental index of
(Degrees)
(Degrees)
refraction of acrylic
14
9
1.55
15
10
1.49
16
11
1.44
19
13
1.45
18
12
1.49
Average:
1.484
The law of reflection and refraction states that when a light wave strikes a smooth interface
separating two transparent materials (in this case, air and the acrylic trapezoid), the wave is generally
partially reflected and partially refracted (transmitted) into the second material. In this experiment, a
smooth surface was used to produce a definite single ray. When a rough surface is used instead, both
refracted light and the reflected light are scattered in different directions hence, determination of the angle
of incidence and refraction is not applicable because no single line is produced. This reflection from a
rough surface is called diffuse reflection and on the other hand, from a smooth surface is called specular
reflection [2].
According to Snells law or the law of refraction, the incident, reflected, and refracted rays and the
normal to the surface lie in the same plane. Generally, the plane is called the plane of incidence. Also, for a
monochromatic light, given two materials, a and b, of different compositions, on the opposite sides of the
interface, the ratio of the sines of the angle a and b, where both angles are measured from the normal to
the surface, is equal to the inverse ratio of the two indexes of refraction. Mathematically,
sin
sin

(2)
From the data gathered, given an angle of incidence and refraction and the index of refraction of the air, the
experimental index of refraction of acrylic can be determined (see table 10.3). Let the interface a is the air
and the interface b is the acrylic trapezoid. Manipulating the equation 1, nb can be calculated using this
equation,
=

()(sin )

sin

(3)
The index of refraction for each angle of incidence was determined using the equation 7, and then get the
average index of refraction of the acrylic, which is 1.484 [5]. From the accepted value of the index of
refraction of the acrylic, n=1.5, the percent difference calculated is 1.07%. From the small percent
difference, it can be concluded that the determination of the index of refraction of acrylic trapezoid
experimentally was successfully done.
Furthermore, it was observed that the angle of incidence is always greater than the angle of
refraction. Hence, it can be said that the refracted ray is bent towards the normal to the surface. This
observation is supported by the fact that when the index of refraction of the second material (acrylic
trapezoid) is greater that the index of refraction of the another material (air), from the equation 8,

(4)
the wave speed is slower and the b from the normal is smaller in the second material than the a of the first
material. Therefore, the refracted ray is bent towards the normal to the surface.

Figure 10.9. Angle of incidence relative to the angle of refracted

where the index of refraction of material b is greater than material
a (nb>na).

On the other hand, index of refraction of material a is greater than material b, the speed of the wave is faster
and thus smaller angle a can be observed and the refracted ray is bent away from the normal to the surface.

Figure 10.10. Angle of incidence relative to the angle of refracted

where the index of refraction of material a is greater than material
b (na>nb).

In the case where the indexes of refraction of material a is equal to the material b, it can be assumed that it
behaves just like a single material, the refracted ray is not bent at all regardless of the type of the material
[6].

Figure 10.11. Angle of incidence relative to the angle of refracted

where the index of refraction of material a is equal to the material
b (na=nb).

Table 9.4. Measured critical angle for total internal reflection

Critical Angle
Percent
(degrees)
difference
Experimental

41.50

Theoretical

41.81

0.74%

The critical angle is the angle of incidence for which the refracted ray emerges tangent to the
surface [1]. This was computed using the formula derived from Snells Law:

sin =
(1)

where is the critical angle, nb is the index of refraction of the first material (air), and n a is the index of
refraction of the second material (acrylic). This derivation was done by setting b to 90, thus, making
sinb = 1. Total internal reflection occurs when the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle. As
the incident angle increases, approaching the critical angle, the internally reflected light becomes brighter

until it reached its maximum intensity. The light in the experiment was also dispersed into different colors.
The red color was found farthest while the violet color was nearest. This shows that the red color has a
greater critical angle compared to violet. When wavelength is put into consideration, violet has the shortest
while red has the longest. This implies that there is a relationship between the wavelength and the index of
refraction. Since the critical angle is also an angle of incidence, the longer the wavelength, the smaller the
index of refraction.
Conclusion and recommendation
Light a form of Electromagnetic (EM) radiation that can either be reflected or refracted. Once
reflected on a flat surface, the Law of Reflection states that the angle of incidence and the angle of
reflection must be equal. If reflected onto a curved surface, one would even be able to observe the
relationship of the curved surfaces focal length and the radius of curvature:

=
2
Meanwhile, when light is refracted the angles formed are dictated by Snells law:
1 sin 1 = 2 sin 2
Finally, in the last part of the experiment a Total Internal Reflection was observed. Such
phenomena occurs when the angle of incidence is greater than or equal to a critical angle thats could be
derived from the formula below.

= sin1 ( 2)
1

As the experiment was accomplished, several factors may have led to a few imprecise results.
Such were the inaccurately drawn lines that traced the light rays and the inaccuracies that came with the
protractor and ruler. Hence when repeated, the researchers are advised to make use of more high
technology equipment to avoid such inaccuracies.

5 References:
1.

The law of reflection. (n.d). The Physics Classroom retrieved from:

www.physicsclassroom.com/class/refln/Lesson-1/The-Law-of-Reflection

2.
3.
4.
5.

Austin, J., Reflection and Refraction, Retrieved from http://www.academia.edu

No Author, Total Internal Reflection, Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com
No Author, Total Internal Reflection, Retrieved from http://www.hyperphyiscs.phy-astr.edu
No Author, Total Internal Reflection, Retrieved from http://www.physicsclassroom.com