MCAT Physics: Mirrors and Lenses Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering fundamental terminology, sign conventions, equations, and behavior of light rays for optics, mirrors, and lenses on the MCAT.

Parallel Light Rays

Light rays that enter parallel to each other, occurring when a light source is very far away from a mirror or lens, or when produced by a laser.

Focal Point (Concave Mirror)

The point in front of a converging or concave mirror where reflected parallel light rays converge.

Focal Point (Convex Mirror)

The point behind a diverging or convex mirror where dotted lines drawn in the opposite direction of reflected rays converge.

Focal Length (Mirrors)

The distance from the mirror to its focal point, which is equal to half of the radius of curvature ($f = \frac{R}{2}$).

Lens Strength

A measurement of how much a lens refracts light, calculated as 1 divided by the focal length ($\text{Strength} = \frac{1}{f}$).

Ray Diagrams

Visual representations used to figure out where non-parallel light rays coming from an object converge.

Thin Lens Equation

An equation relating the focal length, object distance, and image distance: $\frac{1}{f} = \frac{1}{O} + \frac{1}{I}$.

Sign Conventions for Mirrors

The rule establishing that everything located in front of a mirror has a positive distance, and everything located behind a mirror has a negative distance.

Sign Conventions for Lenses

The rule establishing that object distance is always positive, while image distance and focal length are positive behind the lens and negative in front of the lens.

Magnification Equation

An equation determining the ratio of image height to object height, represented by $m = -\frac{I}{O}$, where a positive result indicates an upright image and a negative result indicates an inverted image.

Real Image

An image formed at a positive image distance ($I > 0$) for any mirror or lens.

Virtual Image

An image formed at a negative image distance ($I < 0$) for any mirror or lens.

Focal Point (Converging Lens)

The point located behind a converging lens where refracted parallel light rays converge.

Focal Point (Diverging Lens)

The point located in front of a diverging lens where extended dotted lines drawn from diverging refracted rays converge.