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Ry Model of Light
A model that assumes light travels in stright lines called rays
Geometric Optics
The subject that studies the ray nature of light and how it interacts with objects
Angle of Incidence
The angle between a ray of light striking a surface and a line normal to the surface being hit
Angle of Reflection
The angle between a reflected light ray and a line normal to the surface being reflected
Law of Reflection
Angle of reflection equals angle of incidence
Diffuse Reflection
Occurs when light hits a rough surface and reflects in many directions since the angle of the surface is different across
Specular Reflection
Reflection on a mirror, light reflects at the same angles and will only hit your eyes at the right angle
Image
A reflection of objects in a mirror
Plane Mirror
A mirror with a single flat reflective surface
Image Point
The point from which a set of diverging rays appears to come from when an object is reflected in a mirror
Image Distance
The distance at which an image in a mirror appears to be from the mirror
Virtual Image
The image seen and reflected from a plane mirror
Real Image
An image where light passes through the image and can appear on a white surface, or on film
Spherical Mirror
A mirror whose surface is curved i the shape of a sphere or a section of one
Convex
Describes a spherical mirror where the reflective surface is on the outside of the spherical shape
Concave
Describes a spherical mirror where reflection takes place on the inside
Focus
The point at which rays that strike a concave mirror will cross
Principal Axis
The straight line perpendicular to the curved surface at its center, light rays mustbe parallel to this axis in order to have a focus
Focal Point
The point where reflected rays come to a focus
Focal Length
The length between the focal point and center of a concave mirror
Paraxial Rays
Rays that make small angles with the principal axis
Parabolic Reflector
A mirror shape that will reflect rays at a perfect focus
Object Distance
The distance an object is from the center of a spherical mirror, represented by do
Image Distance
The distance an object’s virtual image is from the center of a spherical mirror, represented by di
Mirror Equation
Relates the object and image distances to the focal length
Magnification
Defined as the height of the image divided by the height of the object
Focal Length
The distance an focal point is from the center of the mirror
Index of Refraction
The ratio between the speed of light in a vacuum and a given material, never less than 1
Refraction
The change in direction of a light ray due to it entering a new medium
Law of Refraction
Also called Snell’s law, used to relate the angles of incidence and refraction in optics
Critical Angle
The angle of incidence at which this occurs
Total Internal Reflection
Occurs when all light is reflected back into the medium it originatedfrom, can only occurs when n2 < n1
Fiber-Optic Cable
A bundle of plastic or blass fibers that use total internal reflection to transmit signals in the form of light
Converging Lens
A lens that is thicker in the center than at its edges, they focuses light
Diverging Lens
A lens that is thinner in the center than at its edges, they spread light out
Diopeter
A unit for lens power, defined as the inverse of a meter
Real Image
Formed by a double convex lens, since rays actually pass through the image
Thin Lens Equaiton
Relates image distance to object distance and focal length
Magnification
Same as the magnification of a mirror
Lensmaker’s Equation
Relates focal length of a lens to its radii of curvature, and index of refraction
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