Curving the Trajectory of Light in Refraction Index Gradients

Abstract

This work seeks to present an investigation about the trajectories followed by rays of light passing through refractive index gradients that was entirely carried by high school students. Such trajectories are curved, therefore contradicting the common sense that light should always travel along straight lines. This fact causes the formation of distorted and striated images, similarly to a type of mirage known as Fata Morgana. Using a rectangular aquarium containing solutions with different gradients of sugar or water with a temperature gradient, we analyzed the conditions for image inversion to occur. Also, we were able to reconstruct a distorted image through our theoretical predictions.

Keywords

• Fata Morgana
• Trajectories of light rays
• Refractive index gradient
• Concentration gradient
• Temperature gradient
• Low cost experiments
• Active learning
• Scientific Olympiads