Physics - Light and Optics``

Long radio waves

λ (m) = 10⁸ → 10⁴

v (Hz) = 10⁰ → 10⁴

AM/FM radio waves

λ (m) = 10² → 10⁰

v (Hz) = 10⁶ → 10⁸

Microwave

λ (m) = 10⁰ → 10^-2

v (Hz) = 10⁸ → 10¹⁰

IR

λ (m) = 10^-4 → 10^-6

v (Hz) = 10¹² → 10¹⁴

Visible Light

400 → 700 nm

UV

λ (m) = 10^-8

v (Hz) = 10¹⁶

X-rays

λ (m) = 10^-8 → 10^-10

v (Hz) = 10¹⁶ → 10¹⁸

Gamma rays

λ (m) = 10^-12 → 10^-16

v (Hz) = 10²⁰ → 10²⁴

Reflection

rebounding of incident light waves at the boundary of a medium

Real image

if light converges at the position of the image

Virtual image

if the light appears to be coming from the position of the image but doesn’t converge

Plane mirrors

flat reflective surface wither neither convergence/divergence of reflected light rays, always creates virtual images

Center of curvature

would be the center of the spherically shaped mirror if it were a complete sphere

Concave mirrors

converging mirrors

Focal point

distance between focal point and mirror (f = r/2)

Refraction

bending of light as it passes from one medium to another and changes speed

Converging

Concave mirror and convex lens

Diverging

Convex mirror and concave lens

Spherical aberration

blurring of periphery of an image due to inadequate reflection of parallel beams at the edge of a mirror or inadequate refraction of parallel beams at the edge of a lens

Dispersion

various wavelengths separate from each other (think prism)

Diffraction

spreading of light as it passes through narrow opening or around obstacle

Plane-polarized light

light in which electric fields of all the waves are oriented in the same direction

electric field and magnetic field vectors are parallel