Exploration 34.1: Lens and a Changing Index of Refraction

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Light rays from a point source, initially in air, are shown incident on a lens.  Restart.

1. How, if at all, would the path of the rays change if the source and lens were placed in another medium with an index of refraction of n = 1.2, which is less than the index of refraction of the lens?  Make a prediction and then test your prediction by using the slider to increase the index of refraction of the surrounding medium.
2. Now, what would happen if the index is increased to n = 2.0, so that it exceeds the index of refraction for the lens?  Make a prediction and then check your prediction using the slider.

Exploration authored by Melissa Dancy and Wolfgang Christian.
© 2004 by Prentice-Hall, Inc. A Pearson Company