Chapter 11: The Production and Reflection of Light

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to the properties of light and optical devices for understanding the chapter's content.

Electromagnetic wave

A wave that travels at the speed of light in a vacuum and does not require a medium for transmission.

Electromagnetic spectrum

The range of all types of electromagnetic radiation, from radio waves to gamma rays, with varying energies.

Incandescence

Light emitted when a material has been heated.

Phosphorescence

Light emitted by a material after it absorbs ultraviolet light.

Chemiluminescence

The production of light from a chemical reaction without an increase in temperature.

Triboluminescence

Light produced from friction with crystals.

Plane mirror

A flat mirror which produces an upright, virtual image at the same size as the object.

Converging mirror

A concave mirror that produces an inverted, real image if the object is beyond the focal point.

Diverging mirror

A convex mirror that always produces a smaller, upright, virtual image.

Angle of incidence

The angle formed between the incident ray and the normal line at the point of reflection.

Angle of reflection

The angle formed between the reflected ray and the normal line at the point of reflection.

Lateral inversion

The phenomenon where a mirror image is inverted from left to right.

Real image

An image formed when light rays converge and can be projected on a screen.

Virtual image

An image formed by rays that appear to converge but do not actually meet, such as in a plane mirror.