The laws of physics play a very important role in carrying out calculations for planning a specific strategy for the production of any product or in drawing up a project for the construction of structures for various purposes. Many values ​​are calculated, so measurements and calculations are made before starting the planning work. For example, the refractive index of glass is equal to the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction.

So first there is a process of measuring angles, then their sine is calculated, and only then you can get the desired value. Despite the availability of tabular data, it is worthwhile to carry out additional calculations each time, since reference books often use ideal conditions that are almost impossible to achieve in real life. Therefore, in reality, the indicator will necessarily differ from the tabular one, and in some situations this is of fundamental importance.

Absolute indicator

The absolute refractive index depends on the brand of glass, since in practice there are a huge number of options that differ in composition and degree of transparency. On average, it is 1.5 and fluctuates around this value by 0.2 in one direction or another. In rare cases, there may be deviations from this figure.

Again, if an exact indicator is important, then additional measurements are indispensable. But even they do not give a 100% reliable result, since the position of the sun in the sky and cloudiness on the day of measurements will affect the final value. Fortunately, in 99.99% of cases, it is enough to simply know that the refractive index of a material such as glass is greater than one and less than two, and all other tenths and hundredths do not play a role.

On forums that help solve problems in physics, the question often flashes, what is the refractive index of glass and diamond? Many people think that since these two substances are similar in appearance, then their properties should be approximately the same. But this is a delusion.

The maximum refraction for glass will be around 1.7, while for diamond this figure reaches 2.42. This gem is one of the few materials on Earth whose refractive index exceeds 2. This is due to its crystalline structure and the large spread of light rays. Faceting plays a minimal role in changes in the table value.

Relative indicator

The relative indicator for some environments can be characterized as follows:

• - the refractive index of glass relative to water is approximately 1.18;
• - the refractive index of the same material relative to air is equal to 1.5;
• - refractive index relative to alcohol - 1.1.

Measurement of the indicator and calculation of the relative value are carried out according to a well-known algorithm. To find a relative parameter, you need to divide one table value by another. Or make experimental calculations for two environments, and then divide the data obtained. Such operations are often carried out in laboratory classes in physics.

Determination of the refractive index

It is quite difficult to determine the refractive index of glass in practice, because high-precision instruments are required to measure the initial data. Any error will increase, since the calculation uses complex formulas that require the absence of errors.

In general, this coefficient shows how many times the speed of propagation of light rays slows down when passing through a certain obstacle. Therefore, it is typical only for transparent materials. For the reference value, that is, for the unit, the refractive index of gases is taken. This was done in order to be able to start from some value in the calculations.

If a sunbeam falls on a glass surface with a refractive index that is equal to the table value, then it can be changed in several ways:

• 1. Glue a film on top, in which the refractive index will be higher than that of glass. This principle is used in car window tinting to improve passenger comfort and allow the driver to see the road more clearly. Also, the film will hold back and ultraviolet radiation.
• 2. Paint the glass with paint. This is what manufacturers of cheap sunglasses do, but be aware that it can be harmful to your eyesight. In good models, glasses are immediately produced colored using a special technology.
• 3. Immerse the glass in some liquid. This is only useful for experiments.

If the light beam passes from glass, then the refractive index on the next material is calculated using the relative coefficient, which can be obtained by comparing the tabular values ​​​​to each other. These calculations are very important in the design of optical systems that carry a practical or experimental load. Errors are not allowed here, because they will cause the entire device to malfunction, and then any data received with it will be useless.

To determine the speed of light in glass with a refractive index, you need to divide the absolute value of the speed in vacuum by the refractive index. Vacuum is used as a reference medium, because refraction does not act there due to the absence of any substances that could interfere with the unhindered movement of light rays along a given trajectory.

In any calculated indicators, the speed will be less than in the reference medium, since the refractive index is always greater than one.

In the 8th grade physics course, you got acquainted with the phenomenon of light refraction. Now you know that light is electromagnetic waves of a certain frequency range. Based on knowledge about the nature of light, you will be able to understand the physical cause of refraction and explain many other light phenomena associated with it.

Rice. 141. Passing from one medium to another, the beam is refracted, i.e., changes the direction of propagation

According to the law of light refraction (Fig. 141):

• rays incident, refracted and perpendicular drawn to the interface between two media at the point of incidence of the beam lie in the same plane; the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction is a constant value for these two media

where n 21 is the relative refractive index of the second medium relative to the first.

If the beam passes into any medium from a vacuum, then

where n is the absolute refractive index (or simply refractive index) of the second medium. In this case, the first "environment" is vacuum, the absolute index of which is taken as one.

The law of light refraction was discovered empirically by the Dutch scientist Willebord Snellius in 1621. The law was formulated in a treatise on optics, which was found in the scientist's papers after his death.

After the discovery of Snell, several scientists put forward a hypothesis that the refraction of light is due to a change in its speed when it passes through the boundary of two media. The validity of this hypothesis was confirmed by theoretical proofs carried out independently by the French mathematician Pierre Fermat (in 1662) and the Dutch physicist Christian Huygens (in 1690). By different paths they arrived at the same result, proving that

• the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction is a constant value for these two media, equal to the ratio of the speeds of light in these media:

(3)

From equation (3) it follows that if the angle of refraction β is less than the angle of incidence a, then the light of a given frequency in the second medium propagates more slowly than in the first, i.e. V 2

The relationship of the quantities included in equation (3) served as a good reason for the appearance of another formulation of the definition of the relative refractive index:

• the relative refractive index of the second medium relative to the first is a physical quantity equal to the ratio of the speeds of light in these media:

n 21 \u003d v 1 / v 2 (4)

Let a beam of light pass from vacuum to some medium. Replacing v1 in equation (4) with the speed of light in vacuum c, and v 2 with the speed of light in a medium v, we obtain equation (5), which is the definition of the absolute refractive index:

• the absolute refractive index of a medium is a physical quantity equal to the ratio of the speed of light in vacuum to the speed of light in a given medium:

According to equations (4) and (5), n 21 shows how many times the speed of light changes when it passes from one medium to another, and n - when it passes from vacuum to a medium. This is the physical meaning of the refractive indices.

The value of the absolute refractive index n of any substance is greater than unity (this is confirmed by the data contained in the tables of physical reference books). Then, according to equation (5), c/v > 1 and c > v, i.e., the speed of light in any substance is less than the speed of light in vacuum.

Without giving rigorous justifications (they are complex and cumbersome), we note that the reason for the decrease in the speed of light during its transition from vacuum to matter is the interaction of a light wave with atoms and molecules of matter. The greater the optical density of the substance, the stronger this interaction, the lower the speed of light and the greater the refractive index. Thus, the speed of light in a medium and the absolute refractive index are determined by the properties of this medium.

According to the numerical values ​​of the refractive indices of substances, one can compare their optical densities. For example, the refractive indices of various types of glass range from 1.470 to 2.040, while the refractive index of water is 1.333. This means that glass is an optically denser medium than water.

Let us turn to Figure 142, with the help of which we can explain why, at the boundary of two media, with a change in speed, the direction of propagation of a light wave also changes.

Rice. 142. When light waves pass from air to water, the speed of light decreases, the front of the wave, and with it its speed, change direction

The figure shows a light wave passing from air into water and incident on the interface between these media at an angle a. In air, light propagates at a speed v 1 , and in water at a slower speed v 2 .

Point A of the wave reaches the boundary first. Over a period of time Δt, point B, moving in the air at the same speed v 1, will reach point B. "During the same time, point A, moving in water at a lower speed v 2, will cover a shorter distance, reaching only point A". In this case, the so-called wave front A "B" in the water will be rotated at a certain angle with respect to the front of the AB wave in the air. And the velocity vector (which is always perpendicular to the wave front and coincides with the direction of its propagation) rotates, approaching the straight line OO", perpendicular to the interface between the media. In this case, the angle of refraction β turns out to be less than the angle of incidence α. This is how the refraction of light occurs.

It can also be seen from the figure that upon transition to another medium and rotation of the wave front, the wavelength also changes: upon transition to an optically denser medium, the velocity decreases, the wavelength also decreases (λ 2< λ 1). Это согласуется и с известной вам формулой λ = V/v, из которой следует, что при неизменной частоте v (которая не зависит от плотности среды и поэтому не меняется при переходе луча из одной среды в другую) уменьшение скорости распространения волны сопровождается пропорциональным уменьшением длины волны.

Questions

1. Which of the two substances is optically denser?
2. How are refractive indices determined in terms of the speed of light in media?
3. Where does light travel the fastest?
4. What is the physical reason for the decrease in the speed of light when it passes from vacuum to a medium or from a medium with a lower optical density to a medium with a higher one?
5. What determines (i.e., what do they depend on) the absolute refractive index of the medium and the speed of light in it?
6. Explain what Figure 142 illustrates.

An exercise

Let us turn to a more detailed consideration of the refractive index introduced by us in § 81 when formulating the law of refraction.

The refractive index depends on the optical properties and the medium from which the beam falls and the medium into which it penetrates. The refractive index obtained when light from a vacuum falls on a medium is called the absolute refractive index of this medium.

Rice. 184. Relative refractive index of two media:

Let the absolute refractive index of the first medium be and the second medium - . Considering refraction at the boundary of the first and second media, we make sure that the refractive index during the transition from the first medium to the second, the so-called relative refractive index, is equal to the ratio of the absolute refractive indices of the second and first media:

(Fig. 184). On the contrary, when passing from the second medium to the first, we have a relative refractive index

The established connection between the relative refractive index of two media and their absolute refractive indices could also be derived theoretically, without new experiments, just as it can be done for the law of reversibility (§ 82),

A medium with a higher refractive index is said to be optically denser. The refractive index of various media relative to air is usually measured. The absolute refractive index of air is . Thus, the absolute refractive index of any medium is related to its refractive index relative to air by the formula

Table 6. Refractive index of various substances relative to air

The refractive index depends on the wavelength of light, that is, on its color. Different colors correspond to different refractive indices. This phenomenon, called dispersion, plays an important role in optics. We will deal with this phenomenon repeatedly in later chapters. The data given in table. 6, refer to yellow light.

It is interesting to note that the law of reflection can be formally written in the same form as the law of refraction. Recall that we agreed to always measure the angles from the perpendicular to the corresponding ray. Therefore, we must consider the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection to have opposite signs, i.e. the law of reflection can be written as

Comparing (83.4) with the law of refraction, we see that the law of reflection can be considered as a special case of the law of refraction at . This formal similarity between the laws of reflection and refraction is of great use in solving practical problems.

In the previous presentation, the refractive index had the meaning of a constant of the medium, independent of the intensity of the light passing through it. Such an interpretation of the refractive index is quite natural; however, in the case of high radiation intensities achievable using modern lasers, it is not justified. The properties of the medium through which strong light radiation passes, in this case, depend on its intensity. As they say, the medium becomes non-linear. The nonlinearity of the medium manifests itself, in particular, in the fact that a light wave of high intensity changes the refractive index. The dependence of the refractive index on the radiation intensity has the form

Here, is the usual refractive index, a is the non-linear refractive index, and is the proportionality factor. The additional term in this formula can be either positive or negative.

The relative changes in the refractive index are relatively small. At non-linear refractive index. However, even such small changes in the refractive index are noticeable: they manifest themselves in a peculiar phenomenon of self-focusing of light.

Consider a medium with a positive nonlinear refractive index. In this case, the areas of increased light intensity are simultaneous areas of increased refractive index. Usually, in real laser radiation, the intensity distribution over the cross section of the beam is nonuniform: the intensity is maximum along the axis and smoothly decreases towards the edges of the beam, as shown in Fig. 185 solid curves. A similar distribution also describes the change in the refractive index over the cross section of a cell with a nonlinear medium, along the axis of which the laser beam propagates. The refractive index, which is greatest along the cell axis, gradually decreases towards its walls (dashed curves in Fig. 185).

A beam of rays emerging from the laser parallel to the axis, falling into a medium with a variable refractive index, is deflected in the direction where it is greater. Therefore, an increased intensity in the vicinity of the OSP cell leads to a concentration of light rays in this region, which is shown schematically in cross sections and in Fig. 185, and this leads to a further increase in . Ultimately, the effective cross section of a light beam passing through a nonlinear medium decreases significantly. Light passes as if through a narrow channel with an increased refractive index. Thus, the laser beam narrows, and the nonlinear medium acts as a converging lens under the action of intense radiation. This phenomenon is called self-focusing. It can be observed, for example, in liquid nitrobenzene.

Rice. 185. Distribution of radiation intensity and refractive index over the cross section of the laser beam of rays at the entrance to the cuvette (a), near the input end (), in the middle (), near the output end of the cuvette ()

Determination of the refractive index of transparent solids

And liquids

Instruments and accessories: a microscope with a light filter, a plane-parallel plate with an AB mark in the form of a cross; refractometer brand "RL"; set of liquids.

Objective: determine the refractive indices of glass and liquids.

Determination of the refractive index of glass using a microscope

To determine the refractive index of a transparent solid, a plane-parallel plate made of this material with a mark is used.

The mark consists of two mutually perpendicular scratches, one of which (A) is applied to the bottom, and the second (B) - to the top surface of the plate. The plate is illuminated with monochromatic light and examined under a microscope. On the
rice. 4.7 shows a section of the investigated plate by a vertical plane.

Rays AD and AE after refraction at the glass-air interface go in the directions DD1 and EE1 and fall into the microscope objective.

An observer who looks at the plate from above sees point A at the intersection of the continuation of the rays DD1 and EE1, i.e. at point C.

Thus, point A seems to the observer located at point C. Let's find the relationship between the refractive index n of the plate material, the thickness d and the apparent thickness d1 of the plate.

4.7 it can be seen that VD \u003d BCtgi, BD \u003d ABtgr, from where

tgi/tgr = AB/BC,

where AB = d is the plate thickness; BC = d1 apparent plate thickness.

If angles i and r are small, then

Sini/Sinr = tgi/tgr, (4.5)

those. Sini/Sinr = d/d1.

Taking into account the law of light refraction, we obtain

The measurement of d/d1 is made using a microscope.

The optical scheme of the microscope consists of two systems: an observation system, which includes an objective and an eyepiece mounted in a tube, and an illumination system, consisting of a mirror and a removable light filter. Image focusing is carried out by rotating the handles located on both sides of the tube.

On the axis of the right handle there is a disk with a limb scale.

The reading b on the limb relative to the fixed pointer determines the distance h from the objective to the microscope stage:

The coefficient k indicates to what height the microscope tube moves when the handle is rotated by 1°.

The diameter of the objective in this setup is small compared to the distance h, so the outermost beam that enters the objective forms a small angle i with the optical axis of the microscope.

The angle of refraction r of light in the plate is less than the angle i, i.e. is also small, which corresponds to condition (4.5).

Work order

1. Put the plate on the microscope stage so that the point of intersection of strokes A and B (see Fig.

Refractive index

4.7) was in the field of view.

2. Rotate the handle of the lifting mechanism to raise the tube to the top position.

3. Looking into the eyepiece, slowly lower the microscope tube by rotating the handle until a clear image of scratch B, applied to the upper surface of the plate, is obtained in the field of view. Record the indication b1 of the limb, which is proportional to the distance h1 from the microscope objective to the top edge of the plate: h1 = kb1 (Fig.

4. Continue lowering the tube smoothly until a clear image of scratch A is obtained, which seems to the observer located at point C. Record a new reading b2 of the limbus. The distance h1 from the objective to the upper surface of the plate is proportional to b2:
h2 = kb2 (Fig. 4.8, b).

The distances from points B and C to the lens are equal, since the observer sees them equally clearly.

The displacement of the tube h1-h2 is equal to the apparent thickness of the plate (Fig.

d1 = h1-h2 = (b1-b2)k. (4.8)

5. Measure the plate thickness d at the intersection of the strokes. To do this, place an auxiliary glass plate 2 under the test plate 1 (Fig. 4.9) and lower the microscope tube until the lens touches (slightly) the test plate. Notice the indication of the limb a1. Remove the plate under study and lower the tube of the microscope until the objective touches the plate 2.

Note indication a2.

At the same time, the microscope objective will drop to a height equal to the thickness of the plate under study, i.e.

d = (a1-a2)k. (4.9)

6. Calculate the refractive index of the plate material using the formula

n = d/d1 = (a1-a2)/(b1-b2). (4.10)

7. Repeat all the above measurements 3-5 times, calculate the average value n, absolute and relative errors rn and rn/n.

Determination of the refractive index of liquids using a refractometer

Instruments that are used to determine the refractive indices are called refractometers.

General view and optical scheme of the RL refractometer are shown in fig. 4.10 and 4.11.

Measurement of the refractive index of liquids using a RL refractometer is based on the phenomenon of refraction of light that has passed through the interface between two media with different refractive indices.

Light beam (Fig.

4.11) from a source 1 (an incandescent lamp or diffused daylight) with the help of a mirror 2 is directed through a window in the instrument housing onto a double prism consisting of prisms 3 and 4, which are made of glass with a refractive index of 1.540.

Surface AA of the upper illumination prism 3 (Fig.

4.12, a) is matte and serves to illuminate the liquid with diffused light deposited in a thin layer in the gap between prisms 3 and 4. The light scattered by the matte surface 3 passes through a plane-parallel layer of the liquid under study and falls on the diagonal face of the explosive of the lower prism 4 under different
angles i ranging from zero to 90°.

To avoid the phenomenon of total internal reflection of light on the explosive surface, the refractive index of the investigated liquid should be less than the refractive index of the glass of prism 4, i.e.

less than 1,540.

A beam of light with an angle of incidence of 90° is called a gliding beam.

The sliding beam, refracted at the liquid-glass interface, will go in prism 4 at the limiting angle of refraction r etc< 90о.

The refraction of a sliding beam at point D (see Figure 4.12, a) obeys the law

nst / nzh \u003d sinipr / sinrpr (4.11)

or nzh = nstsinrpr, (4.12)

since sinipr = 1.

On the surface BC of prism 4, light rays are re-refracted and then

Sini¢pr/sinr¢pr = 1/ nst, (4.13)

r¢pr+i¢pr = i¢pr =a , (4.14)

where a is the refracting beam of the prism 4.

Solving together the system of equations (4.12), (4.13), (4.14), we can obtain a formula that relates the refractive index nzh of the liquid under study with the limiting angle of refraction r'pr of the beam that emerged from the prism 4:

If a spotting scope is placed in the path of the rays emerging from prism 4, then the lower part of its field of view will be illuminated, and the upper part dark. The interface between light and dark fields is formed by rays with a limiting refraction angle r¢pr. There are no rays with an angle of refraction smaller than r¢pr in this system (Fig.

The value of r¢pr, therefore, and the position of the chiaroscuro boundary depend only on the refractive index nzh of the liquid under study, since nst and a are constant values ​​in this device.

Knowing nst, a and r¢pr, it is possible to calculate nzh using formula (4.15). In practice, formula (4.15) is used to calibrate the refractometer scale.

On scale 9 (see

rice. 4.11), the values ​​of the refractive index for ld = 5893 Å are plotted on the left. In front of the eyepiece 10 - 11 there is a plate 8 with a mark (--).

By moving the eyepiece along with plate 8 along the scale, it is possible to achieve alignment of the mark with the dividing line between the dark and light fields of view.

The division of the graduated scale 9, coinciding with the mark, gives the value of the refractive index nzh of the liquid under study. Objective 6 and eyepiece 10-11 form a telescope.

Rotary prism 7 changes the course of the beam, directing it into the eyepiece.

Due to the dispersion of glass and the liquid under study, instead of a clear dividing line between dark and bright fields, when observed in white light, an iridescent stripe is obtained. To eliminate this effect, the dispersion compensator 5 is installed in front of the telescope lens. The main part of the compensator is a prism, which is glued from three prisms and can rotate relative to the axis of the telescope.

The refractive angles of the prism and their material are chosen so that yellow light with a wavelength ld = 5893 Å passes through them without refraction. If a compensatory prism is installed on the path of colored rays so that its dispersion is equal in magnitude, but opposite in sign to the dispersion of the measuring prism and the liquid, then the total dispersion will be equal to zero. In this case, the beam of light rays will gather into a white beam, the direction of which coincides with the direction of the limiting yellow beam.

Thus, when the compensatory prism rotates, the color of the color shade is eliminated. Together with the prism 5, the dispersion limb 12 rotates relative to the fixed pointer (see Fig. 4.10). The rotation angle Z of the limb makes it possible to judge the value of the average dispersion of the investigated liquid.

The dial scale must be graduated. The schedule is attached to the installation.

Work order

1. Raise the prism 3, place 2-3 drops of the test liquid on the surface of the prism 4 and lower the prism 3 (see Fig. 4.10).

3. Using ocular aiming, achieve a sharp image of the scale and the interface between the fields of view.

4. Turning the handle 12 of the compensator 5, destroy the colored coloration of the interface between the fields of vision.

Moving the eyepiece along the scale, align the mark (—-) with the border of the dark and light fields and record the value of the liquid index.

6. Investigate the proposed set of liquids and evaluate the measurement error.

7. After each measurement, wipe the surface of the prisms with filter paper soaked in distilled water.

test questions

Option 1

Define the absolute and relative refractive indices of a medium.

2. Draw the path of rays through the interface of two media (n2> n1, and n2< n1).

3. Obtain a relationship that relates the refractive index n to the thickness d and the apparent thickness d¢ of the plate.

4. Task. The limiting angle of total internal reflection for some substance is 30°.

Find the refractive index of this substance.

Answer: n=2.

Option 2

1. What is the phenomenon of total internal reflection?

2. Describe the design and principle of operation of the RL-2 refractometer.

3. Explain the role of the compensator in a refractometer.

4. Task. A light bulb is lowered from the center of a round raft to a depth of 10 m. Find the minimum radius of the raft, while not a single ray from the light bulb should reach the surface.

Answer: R = 11.3 m.

REFRACTIVE INDEX, or REFRACTIVE COEFFICIENT, is an abstract number characterizing the refractive power of a transparent medium. The refractive index is denoted by the Latin letter π and is defined as the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction of a beam entering from a void into a given transparent medium:

n = sin α/sin β = const or as the ratio of the speed of light in a void to the speed of light in a given transparent medium: n = c/νλ from the void to the given transparent medium.

The refractive index is considered a measure of the optical density of a medium

The refractive index determined in this way is called the absolute refractive index, in contrast to the relative refractive index.

e. shows how many times the speed of light propagation slows down when its refractive index passes, which is determined by the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction when the beam passes from a medium of one density to a medium of another density. The relative refractive index is equal to the ratio of the absolute refractive indices: n = n2/n1, where n1 and n2 are the absolute refractive indices of the first and second media.

The absolute refractive index of all bodies - solid, liquid and gaseous - is greater than one and ranges from 1 to 2, exceeding the value of 2 only in rare cases.

The refractive index depends both on the properties of the medium and on the wavelength of light and increases with decreasing wavelength.

Therefore, an index is assigned to the letter p, indicating which wavelength the indicator refers to.

REFRACTIVE INDEX

For example, for TF-1 glass, the refractive index in the red part of the spectrum is nC=1.64210, and in the violet part nG’=1.67298.

Refractive indices of some transparent bodies

Air - 1.000292

Water - 1,334

Ether - 1,358

Ethyl alcohol - 1.363

Glycerin - 1, 473

Organic glass (plexiglass) - 1, 49

Benzene - 1.503

(Crown glass - 1.5163

Fir (Canadian), balsam 1.54

Heavy crown glass - 1, 61 26

Flint glass - 1.6164

Carbon disulfide - 1.629

Glass heavy flint - 1, 64 75

Monobromonaphthalene - 1.66

Glass is the heaviest flint - 1.92

Diamond - 2.42

The difference in the refractive index for different parts of the spectrum is the cause of chromatism, i.e.

decomposition of white light when it passes through refracting parts - lenses, prisms, etc.

Lab #41

Determination of the refractive index of liquids using a refractometer

The purpose of the work: determination of the refractive index of liquids by the method of total internal reflection using a refractometer IRF-454B; study of the dependence of the refractive index of the solution on its concentration.

Installation description

When non-monochromatic light is refracted, it is decomposed into component colors into a spectrum.

This phenomenon is due to the dependence of the refractive index of a substance on the frequency (wavelength) of light and is called light dispersion.

It is customary to characterize the refractive power of a medium by the refractive index at a wavelength λ \u003d 589.3 nm (average of the wavelengths of two close yellow lines in the sodium vapor spectrum).

60. What methods for determining the concentration of substances in the solution are used in atomic absorption analysis?

This refractive index is denoted nD.

The measure of variance is the mean variance, defined as the difference ( nF-nC), where nF is the refractive index of a substance at a wavelength λ = 486.1 nm (blue line in the hydrogen spectrum), nC is the refractive index of a substance λ - 656.3 nm (red line in the spectrum of hydrogen).

The refraction of a substance is characterized by the value of the relative dispersion:
Handbooks usually give the reciprocal of the relative dispersion, i.e.

e.
,where is the dispersion coefficient, or the Abbe number.

An apparatus for determining the refractive index of liquids consists of a refractometer IRF-454B with the measurement limits of the indicator; refraction nD in the range from 1.2 to 1.7; test liquid, wipes for wiping the surfaces of prisms.

Refractometer IRF-454B is a test instrument designed to directly measure the refractive index of liquids, as well as to determine the average dispersion of liquids in the laboratory.

The principle of operation of the device IRF-454B based on the phenomenon of total internal reflection of light.

The schematic diagram of the device is shown in fig. one.

The investigated liquid is placed between the two faces of the prism 1 and 2. Prism 2 with a well-polished face AB is measuring, and prism 1 has a matte face BUT1 AT1 - lighting. Rays from a light source fall on the edge BUT1 With1 , refract, fall on a matte surface BUT1 AT1 and scattered by this surface.

Then they pass through the layer of the investigated liquid and fall on the surface. AB prisms 2.

According to the law of refraction
, where
and are the angles of refraction of the rays in the liquid and the prism, respectively.

As the angle of incidence increases
angle of refraction also increases and reaches its maximum value
, when
, t.

e. when a beam in a liquid slides over a surface AB. Hence,
. Thus, the rays emerging from the prism 2 are limited to a certain angle
.

The rays coming from the liquid into the prism 2 at large angles undergo total internal reflection at the interface AB and do not pass through a prism.

The device under consideration is used to study liquids, the refractive index which is less than the refractive index prism 2, therefore, the rays of all directions, refracted at the boundary of the liquid and glass, will enter the prism.

Obviously, the part of the prism corresponding to the non-transmitted rays will be darkened. In the telescope 4, located on the path of the rays emerging from the prism, one can observe the division of the field of view into light and dark parts.

By turning the system of prisms 1-2, the border between the light and dark fields is combined with the cross of the threads of the eyepiece of the telescope. The system of prisms 1-2 is associated with a scale that is calibrated in refractive index values.

The scale is located in the lower part of the field of view of the pipe and, when the section of the field of view is combined with the cross of threads, gives the corresponding value of the refractive index of the liquid .

Due to dispersion, the interface of the field of view in white light will be colored. To eliminate coloration, as well as to determine the average dispersion of the test substance, compensator 3 is used, consisting of two systems of glued direct vision prisms (Amici prisms).

The prisms can be rotated simultaneously in different directions using a precise rotary mechanical device, thereby changing the intrinsic dispersion of the compensator and eliminating the coloration of the field of view observed through the optical system 4. A drum with a scale is connected to the compensator, which determines the dispersion parameter, which allows calculating the average dispersion substances.

Work order

Adjust the device so that the light from the source (incandescent lamp) enters the illuminating prism and illuminates the field of view evenly.

2. Open the measuring prism.

Apply a few drops of water to its surface with a glass rod and carefully close the prism. The gap between the prisms must be evenly filled with a thin layer of water (pay special attention to this).

Using the screw of the device with a scale, eliminate the coloration of the field of view and obtain a sharp border between light and shadow. Align it, with the help of another screw, with the reference cross of the eyepiece of the device. Determine the refractive index of water on the scale of the eyepiece to the nearest thousandth.

Compare the obtained results with reference data for water. If the difference between the measured and tabulated refractive index does not exceed ± 0.001, then the measurement was performed correctly.

Exercise 1

1. Prepare a solution of table salt ( NaCl) with a concentration close to the solubility limit (for example, C = 200 g/liter).

Measure the refractive index of the resulting solution.

3. By diluting the solution by an integer number of times, obtain the dependence of the indicator; refraction from the concentration of the solution and fill in the table. one.

Table 1

An exercise. How to get only by dilution the concentration of the solution, equal to 3/4 of the maximum (initial)?

Plot dependency graph n=n(C). Further processing of experimental data should be carried out as directed by the teacher.

Processing of experimental data

a) Graphic method

From the graph determine the slope AT, which under the conditions of the experiment will characterize the solute and the solvent.

2. Determine the concentration of the solution using the graph NaCl given by the laboratory assistant.

b) Analytical method

Calculate by least squares BUT, AT and SB.

According to the found values BUT and AT determine the mean
solution concentration NaCl given by the laboratory assistant

test questions

dispersion of light. What is the difference between normal and abnormal dispersion?

2. What is the phenomenon of total internal reflection?

3. Why is it impossible to measure the refractive index of a liquid greater than the refractive index of a prism using this setup?

4. Why the face of a prism BUT1 AT1 make matte?

Degradation, Index

Psychological Encyclopedia

A way to assess the degree of mental degradation! functions measured by the Wexler-Bellevue test. The index is based on the observation that the level of development of some abilities measured by the test decreases with age, while others do not.

Index

Psychological Encyclopedia

- an index, a register of names, titles, etc. In psychology - a digital indicator for quantifying, characterizing phenomena.

What does the refractive index of a substance depend on?

Index

Psychological Encyclopedia

1. Most general meaning: anything used to mark, identify, or direct; indication, inscriptions, signs or symbols. 2. A formula or number, often expressed as a factor, showing some relationship between values ​​or measurements, or between…

Sociability, Index

Psychological Encyclopedia

A characteristic that expresses the sociability of a person. A sociogram, for example, gives, among other measurements, an assessment of the sociability of different members of a group.

Selection, Index

Psychological Encyclopedia

A formula for evaluating the power of a particular test or test item in distinguishing individuals from each other.

Reliability, Index

Psychological Encyclopedia

A statistic that provides an estimate of the correlation between the actual values ​​obtained from the test and the theoretically correct values.

This index is given as the value of r, where r is the calculated safety factor.

Forecasting Efficiency, Index

Psychological Encyclopedia

A measure of the extent to which knowledge about one variable can be used to make predictions about another variable, given that the correlation of those variables is known. Usually in symbolic form this is expressed as E, the index is represented as 1 - ((...

Words, Index

Psychological Encyclopedia

A general term for any systematic frequency of occurrence of words in written and/or spoken language.

Often such indexes are limited to specific linguistic areas, eg first grade textbooks, parent-child interactions. However, estimates are known ...

Body Structures, Index

Psychological Encyclopedia

A body measurement proposed by Eysenck based on the ratio of height to chest circumference.

Those in the "normal" range were called mesomorphs, those within the standard deviation or above the mean were called leptomorphs, and those within the standard deviation or...

TO LECTURE №24

"INSTRUMENTAL METHODS OF ANALYSIS"

REFRACTOMETRY.

Literature:

1. V.D. Ponomarev "Analytical Chemistry" 1983 246-251

2. A.A. Ishchenko "Analytical Chemistry" 2004 pp 181-184

REFRACTOMETRY.

Refractometry is one of the simplest physical methods of analysis, requiring a minimum amount of analyte and is carried out in a very short time.

Refractometry- a method based on the phenomenon of refraction or refraction i.e.

change in the direction of light propagation when passing from one medium to another.

Refraction, as well as the absorption of light, is a consequence of its interaction with the medium.

The word refractometry means dimension refraction of light, which is estimated by the value of the refractive index.

Refractive index value n depends

1) on the composition of substances and systems,

2) from at what concentration and what molecules the light beam meets on its way, because

Under the action of light, the molecules of different substances are polarized in different ways. It is on this dependence that the refractometric method is based.

This method has a number of advantages, as a result of which it has found wide application both in chemical research and in the control of technological processes.

1) The measurement of refractive indices is a very simple process that is carried out accurately and with a minimum investment of time and amount of substance.

2) Typically, refractometers provide up to 10% accuracy in determining the refractive index of light and the content of the analyte

The refractometry method is used to control authenticity and purity, to identify individual substances, to determine the structure of organic and inorganic compounds in the study of solutions.

Refractometry is used to determine the composition of two-component solutions and for ternary systems.

Physical basis of the method

REFRACTIVE INDICATOR.

The deviation of a light beam from its original direction when it passes from one medium to another is the greater, the greater the difference in the speeds of light propagation in two

these environments.

Consider the refraction of a light beam at the boundary of any two transparent media I and II (See Fig.

Rice.). Let us agree that medium II has a greater refractive power and, therefore, n1 and n2- shows the refraction of the corresponding media. If medium I is neither vacuum nor air, then the ratio sin of the angle of incidence of the light beam to sin of the angle of refraction will give the value of the relative refractive index n rel. The value of n rel.

What is the refractive index of glass? And when is it necessary to know?

can also be defined as the ratio of the refractive indices of the media under consideration.

nrel. = —— = —

The value of the refractive index depends on

1) the nature of substances

The nature of a substance in this case is determined by the degree of deformability of its molecules under the action of light - the degree of polarizability.

The more intense the polarizability, the stronger the refraction of light.

2)incident light wavelength

The measurement of the refractive index is carried out at a light wavelength of 589.3 nm (line D of the sodium spectrum).

The dependence of the refractive index on the wavelength of light is called dispersion.

The shorter the wavelength, the greater the refraction. Therefore, rays of different wavelengths are refracted differently.

3)temperature at which the measurement is taken. A prerequisite for determining the refractive index is compliance with the temperature regime. Typically, the determination is performed at 20±0.30C.

As the temperature rises, the refractive index decreases, and as the temperature decreases, it increases..

The temperature correction is calculated using the following formula:

nt=n20+ (20-t) 0.0002, where

nt- Bye refractive index at a given temperature,

n20 - refractive index at 200C

The influence of temperature on the values ​​of the refractive indices of gases and liquids is related to the values ​​of their coefficients of volumetric expansion.

The volume of all gases and liquids increases when heated, the density decreases and, consequently, the indicator decreases

The refractive index measured at 200C and a light wavelength of 589.3 nm is indicated by the index nD20

The dependence of the refractive index of a homogeneous two-component system on its state is established experimentally by determining the refractive index for a number of standard systems (for example, solutions), the content of components in which is known.

4) the concentration of a substance in a solution.

For many aqueous solutions of substances, the refractive indices at various concentrations and temperatures have been reliably measured, and in these cases reference data can be used. refractometric tables.

Practice shows that when the content of the dissolved substance does not exceed 10-20%, along with the graphical method, in very many cases it is possible to use linear equation like:

n=no+FC,

n- refractive index of the solution,

no is the refractive index of the pure solvent,

C— concentration of the dissolved substance,%

F-empirical coefficient, the value of which is found

by determining the refractive indices of solutions of known concentration.

REFRACTOMETERS.

Refractometers are devices used to measure the refractive index.

There are 2 types of these instruments: Abbe type refractometer and Pulfrich type. Both in those and in others, the measurements are based on determining the magnitude of the limiting angle of refraction. In practice, refractometers of various systems are used: laboratory-RL, universal RLU, etc.

The refractive index of distilled water n0 = 1.33299, in practice, this indicator is taken as reference as n0 =1,333.

The principle of operation on refractometers is based on the determination of the refractive index by the limiting angle method (the angle of total reflection of light).

Hand refractometer

Refractometer Abbe

The processes that are associated with light are an important component of physics and surround us everywhere in our everyday life. The most important in this situation are the laws of reflection and refraction of light, on which modern optics is based. The refraction of light is an important part of modern science.

Distortion effect

This article will tell you what the phenomenon of light refraction is, as well as what the law of refraction looks like and what follows from it.

Fundamentals of a physical phenomenon

When a beam falls on a surface that is separated by two transparent substances that have different optical densities (for example, different glasses or in water), some of the rays will be reflected, and some will penetrate into the second structure (for example, it will propagate in water or glass). When passing from one medium to another, the beam is characterized by a change in its direction. This is the phenomenon of light refraction.
Reflection and refraction of light can be seen especially well in water.

water distortion effect

Looking at things in the water, they seem distorted. This is especially noticeable at the border between air and water. Visually it seems that underwater objects are slightly deflected. The described physical phenomenon is precisely the reason why all objects seem distorted in water. When the rays hit the glass, this effect is less noticeable.
The refraction of light is a physical phenomenon, which is characterized by a change in the direction of the solar beam at the moment of moving from one medium (structure) to another.
To improve the understanding of this process, consider the example of a beam falling from air into water (similarly for glass). By drawing a perpendicular along the interface, the angle of refraction and return of the light beam can be measured. This indicator (the angle of refraction) will change when the flow penetrates into the water (inside the glass).
Note! This parameter is understood as the angle that forms a perpendicular drawn to the separation of two substances when the beam penetrates from the first structure to the second.

Beam passage

The same indicator is typical for other environments. It is established that this indicator depends on the density of the substance. If the beam is incident from a less dense to a denser structure, then the angle of distortion created will be larger. And if vice versa, then less.
At the same time, a change in the slope of the fall will also affect this indicator. But the relationship between them does not remain constant. At the same time, the ratio of their sines will remain constant, which is displayed by the following formula: sinα / sinγ = n, where:

• n is a constant value that is described for each specific substance (air, glass, water, etc.). Therefore, what this value will be can be determined from special tables;
• α is the angle of incidence;
• γ is the angle of refraction.

To determine this physical phenomenon, the law of refraction was created.

physical law

The law of refraction of light fluxes allows you to determine the characteristics of transparent substances. The law itself consists of two provisions:

• First part. The beam (incident, changed) and the perpendicular, which was restored at the point of incidence at the boundary, for example, air and water (glass, etc.), will be located in the same plane;
• second part. The indicator of the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the same angle formed when crossing the boundary will be a constant value.

Description of the law

In this case, at the moment the beam exits the second structure into the first (for example, when the light flux passes from the air, through the glass and back into the air), a distortion effect will also occur.

An important parameter for different objects

The main indicator in this situation is the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to a similar parameter, but for distortion. As follows from the law described above, this indicator is a constant value.
At the same time, when the value of the slope of the fall changes, the same situation will be typical for a similar indicator. This parameter is of great importance, since it is an integral characteristic of transparent substances.

Indicators for different objects

Thanks to this parameter, you can quite effectively distinguish between types of glass, as well as a variety of precious stones. It is also important for determining the speed of light in various media.

Note! The highest speed of the light flux is in vacuum.

When moving from one substance to another, its speed will decrease. For example, diamond, which has the highest refractive index, will have a photon propagation speed 2.42 times faster than air. In water, they will spread 1.33 times slower. For different types of glass, this parameter ranges from 1.4 to 2.2.

Note! Some glasses have a refractive index of 2.2, which is very close to diamond (2.4). Therefore, it is not always possible to distinguish a piece of glass from a real diamond.

Optical density of substances

Light can penetrate through different substances, which are characterized by different optical density. As we said earlier, using this law, you can determine the characteristic of the density of the medium (structure). The denser it is, the slower the speed of light will propagate in it. For example, glass or water will be more optically dense than air.
In addition to the fact that this parameter is a constant value, it also reflects the ratio of the speed of light in two substances. The physical meaning can be displayed as the following formula:

This indicator tells how the speed of propagation of photons changes when passing from one substance to another.

Another important indicator

When moving the light flux through transparent objects, its polarization is possible. It is observed during the passage of a light flux from dielectric isotropic media. Polarization occurs when photons pass through glass.

polarization effect

Partial polarization is observed when the angle of incidence of the light flux at the boundary of two dielectrics differs from zero. The degree of polarization depends on what the angles of incidence were (Brewster's law).

Full internal reflection

Concluding our short digression, it is still necessary to consider such an effect as a full-fledged internal reflection.

Full Display Phenomenon

For the appearance of this effect, it is necessary to increase the angle of incidence of the light flux at the moment of its transition from a denser to a less dense medium at the interface between substances. In a situation where this parameter will exceed a certain limit value, then the photons incident on the boundary of this section will be completely reflected. Actually, this will be our desired phenomenon. Without it, it was impossible to make fiber optics.

Conclusion

The practical application of the features of the behavior of the light flux gave a lot, creating a variety of technical devices to improve our lives. At the same time, light has not opened all its possibilities to mankind, and its practical potential has not yet been fully realized.

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This article reveals the essence of such a concept of optics as the refractive index. Formulas for obtaining this value are given, a brief overview of the application of the phenomenon of refraction of an electromagnetic wave is given.

Ability to see and refractive index

At the dawn of civilization, people asked the question: how does the eye see? It has been suggested that a person emits rays that feel the surrounding objects, or, conversely, all things emit such rays. The answer to this question was given in the seventeenth century. It is contained in optics and is related to what the refractive index is. Reflecting from various opaque surfaces and refracting at the border with transparent ones, light gives a person the opportunity to see.

Light and refractive index

Our planet is shrouded in the light of the Sun. And it is precisely with the wave nature of photons that such a concept as the absolute refractive index is associated. When propagating in a vacuum, a photon encounters no obstacles. On the planet, light encounters many different denser media: the atmosphere (a mixture of gases), water, crystals. Being an electromagnetic wave, photons of light have one phase velocity in vacuum (denoted c), and in the environment - another (denoted v). The ratio of the first and second is what is called the absolute refractive index. The formula looks like this: n = c / v.

Phase speed

It is worth giving a definition of the phase velocity of the electromagnetic medium. Otherwise understand what is the refractive index n, it is forbidden. A photon of light is a wave. So, it can be represented as a packet of energy that oscillates (imagine a segment of a sinusoid). Phase - this is the segment of the sinusoid that the wave passes at a given time (recall that this is important for understanding such a quantity as the refractive index).

For example, a phase can be a maximum of a sinusoid or some segment of its slope. The phase velocity of a wave is the speed at which that particular phase moves. As the definition of the refractive index explains, for a vacuum and for a medium, these values ​​differ. Moreover, each environment has its own value of this quantity. Any transparent compound, whatever its composition, has a refractive index different from all other substances.

Absolute and relative refractive index

It has already been shown above that the absolute value is measured relative to vacuum. However, this is difficult on our planet: light more often hits the border of air and water or quartz and spinel. For each of these media, as mentioned above, the refractive index is different. In air, a photon of light travels along one direction and has one phase velocity (v 1), but when it enters water, it changes the direction of propagation and phase velocity (v 2). However, both of these directions lie in the same plane. This is very important for understanding how the image of the surrounding world is formed on the retina of the eye or on the matrix of the camera. The ratio of the two absolute values ​​gives the relative refractive index. The formula looks like this: n 12 \u003d v 1 / v 2.

But what if the light, on the contrary, comes out of the water and enters the air? Then this value will be determined by the formula n 21 = v 2 / v 1. When multiplying the relative refractive indices, we get n 21 * n 12 \u003d (v 2 * v 1) / (v 1 * v 2) \u003d 1. This ratio is true for any pair of media. The relative refractive index can be found from the sines of the angles of incidence and refraction n 12 = sin Ɵ 1 / sin Ɵ 2. Do not forget that the angles are counted from the normal to the surface. A normal is a line that is perpendicular to the surface. That is, if the problem is given an angle α falling relative to the surface itself, then the sine of (90 - α) must be considered.

The beauty of the refractive index and its applications

On a calm sunny day, glare plays at the bottom of the lake. Dark blue ice covers the rock. On a woman's hand, a diamond scatters thousands of sparks. These phenomena are a consequence of the fact that all boundaries of transparent media have a relative refractive index. In addition to aesthetic pleasure, this phenomenon can also be used for practical applications.

Here are some examples:

• A glass lens collects a beam of sunlight and sets fire to the grass.
• The laser beam focuses on the diseased organ and cuts off unnecessary tissue.
• Sunlight refracts on an ancient stained glass window, creating a special atmosphere.
• Microscope magnifies very small details
• Spectrophotometer lenses collect laser light reflected from the surface of the substance under study. Thus, it is possible to understand the structure, and then the properties of new materials.
• There is even a project for a photonic computer, where information will be transmitted not by electrons, as it is now, but by photons. For such a device, refractive elements will definitely be required.

Wavelength

However, the Sun supplies us with photons not only in the visible spectrum. Infrared, ultraviolet, X-ray ranges are not perceived by human vision, but they affect our lives. IR rays keep us warm, UV photons ionize the upper atmosphere and enable plants to produce oxygen through photosynthesis.

And what the refractive index is equal to depends not only on the substances between which the boundary lies, but also on the wavelength of the incident radiation. It is usually clear from the context which value is being referred to. That is, if the book considers X-rays and its effect on a person, then n there it is defined for this range. But usually the visible spectrum of electromagnetic waves is meant, unless otherwise specified.

Refractive index and reflection

As it became clear from the above, we are talking about transparent environments. As examples, we cited air, water, diamond. But what about wood, granite, plastic? Is there such a thing as a refractive index for them? The answer is complex, but in general yes.

First of all, we should consider what kind of light we are dealing with. Those media that are opaque to visible photons are cut through by X-ray or gamma radiation. That is, if we were all supermen, then the whole world around us would be transparent to us, but to varying degrees. For example, walls made of concrete would be no denser than jelly, and metal fittings would look like pieces of denser fruit.

For other elementary particles, muons, our planet is generally transparent through and through. At one time, scientists brought a lot of trouble to prove the very fact of their existence. Muons pierce us in millions every second, but the probability of a collision of at least one particle with matter is very small, and it is very difficult to fix this. By the way, Baikal will soon become a place for "catching" muons. Its deep and clear water is ideal for this - especially in winter. The main thing is that the sensors do not freeze. Thus, the refractive index of concrete, for example, for x-ray photons makes sense. Moreover, X-ray irradiation of a substance is one of the most accurate and important methods for studying the structure of crystals.

It is also worth remembering that, in a mathematical sense, substances that are opaque for a given range have an imaginary refractive index. Finally, one must understand that the temperature of a substance can also affect its transparency.