A popular introductory physics laboratory experiment is one focusing on Snell’s law. This is straightforward to complete with lasers and prisms, but here we present an alternative version that guides the students through some of the major historical developments, recreating and analyzing significant experiments. The discovery of Snell’s law has a fascinating, winding, global history, and the sine relationship eluded some of the greatest minds in optics for more than a thousand years.
References
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The laboratory manual provided to the students is available from the authors upon request.
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.© 2022 Author(s). Published under an exclusive license by American Association of Physics Teachers.
2022
Author(s)
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