# Reflection and Refraction (Lateral Displacement)

1. Sep 18, 2008

### Sarah K

1. The Problem
A thin beam of white light is directed at an angle α = 36.4° with respect to the horizontal, onto the top of a square block of silicate flint glass near its top corner. The perpendicular length of the block (or height is 1cm). The block’s refractive index n is 1.66 for blue light (λ0 = 400 nm) and 1.61 for red light (λ0 = 700 nm). The block is surrounded by vacuum.

Find the lateral displacement l between the two rays leaving the bottom surface of the block, as shown. (Note that l is measured perpendicularly to the rays.)

2.The relevant equation:
n1sin(theta1)=n2sin(theta2)
I do realize that I need use this formula twice

but I am not exactly sure what LATERAL DISPLACEMENT means :S

if someone can explain what is it I am supposed to find, I would appreciate it.
Hints are more than welcome.

Thanks

2. Sep 18, 2008

### rl.bhat

In the rectangular block the incident ray and refracted ray are parallel to each other. The perpendicular distance between them is called lateral displacement.
The formula for lateral displacement S = t*sin( theta1 -theta2)/cos(theta2) where t is the height of the block.
Find the lateral displacement for red and blue, and find the difference between them.

3. Dec 18, 2008

### angeleyes101

what is the relationship between the width of a glass block and angel of incidence and the lateral displacement if the width of a glass block is kept constant while performing a simple refractive lab??

4. Aug 10, 2009

### chaoscreater

I need help with that formula too. I thought "t" is the thickness of the object (glass, or block in this case) and not the height?? Because in my question, it says this:

"A beam of light travelling horizontally in the air goes through a titled rectangular piece of glass.

The piece of glass has a thickness w = 32.0mm, a refractice index n2= 1.54, and is titled by an angle alpha = 26 degrees with respect to the horizontal. As a result, the outgoing beam is displaced laterally with respect to the incoming direction."

5. Aug 10, 2009

### bm0p700f

Would it not be simpler (i.e more manageable) to work out the angle of refraction for each beam then work out using trig where each ray would end up on the other face.Tthe difference is the lateral displacement the way I read it. That equation posted does not seem appropriate to difficulty of the question. It seems like something you would learn at degree level.

To the last poster I presume you are asked to find out how far below the incident ray the refracted ray exits the block. Again Snell's law and a bit of trig is required.

Draw a diagram and work out the angle of refraction. Then use trig to find out where the ray end up. Also you may O.K for you to solve the problem using a scale diagram on graph paper or similar.

6. Aug 10, 2009

### rl.bhat

According to the Snell's Law,
n = $$\frac{sin i}{sin r}$$
In the problem angle of incident ray θ ιs given with respect to the horizontal. There fore the i = 90 - θ.
Find r. A simple geometry and trigonometry will give a relation between the width of a glass block and angel of incidence and the lateral displacement.
So the lateral shift S = t$$\frac{sin( i - r )}{cos r}$$ where t is the width of the glass slab. Since the angler of incidence for red and blue is the same, find lateral shift for red and blue and find the difference.

7. Aug 11, 2009

### rl.bhat

In this case ray is horizontal and glass is tilted by an angle 26o
If you draw the ray diagram you can see that the angle of incidence is 90o - 26o = 54o
Find the angle of refraction r. Substitute in the formula and find the lateral shift.
In this problem thickness and the height is the same and it is the distance between the incident surface and the refracted surface.