Question

Design a simple alternative set-up/procedure for demonstrating refraction through a transparent material/substance (ex. water) and determining the index of refraction.

Answer 1

Use transparent tub filled with water to perform this experiment. Use laser light for the ray path.

Make boundary of the tub.

Use pins for the initial path of the ray.

Illuminate tub with laser and sketch its path before and after crossing the tub.

Remove the tub and measure all the angles with respect to the normal of the surface

First apply Snell's law fir the tub material and then for the water.

Since we know the refractive index of air and material, we can calculate angle for material and hence refractive index of the water.