Snell’s Law can be used to study the refraction of light in water by observing how a light ray bends when it passes from one medium (like air) into water, which has a higher refractive index.
Here’s how it works in practice:
- Light entering water:
When a light ray travels from air into water, it slows down because water is denser than air. According to Snell’s Law, this causes the light to bend toward the normal—an imaginary line perpendicular to the surface. - Measuring angles:
By shining a light at a known angle into the water and measuring the angle at which it bends, you can analyze the relationship between the angle of incidence and the angle of refraction. These angle measurements help demonstrate how the change in medium affects the light’s path. - Calculating refractive index:
With the measured angles, Snell’s Law allows you to calculate the refractive index of water. Since the refractive index of air is known, you can use the change in angle to determine how much the light slows down in water. - Studying different wavelengths:
You can also use Snell’s Law to explore how different colors (wavelengths) of light bend differently in water, showing dispersion—which is why underwater objects can appear distorted or shifted.
Using Snell’s Law in experiments helps us understand how light behaves at the air-water boundary, which is important in fields like optics, photography, and marine science.