LIGHT AND SOUND

ABSORPTION

taking in light

AMPLITUDE

distance between middle and peak of wave

ANGLE OF INCIDENCE

angle between incident ray and normal

ANGLE OF REFLECTION

angle between reflected ray and normal

ANGLE OF REFRACTION

angle between refracted ray and normal

AUDIBLE

able to be heard

BINOCULAR VISION

using two eyes to locate positions of objects

BLACK LIGHT

invisible light

BLIND SPOT

where all nerves from the retina join to form the optic nerve

CONCAVE

curved inwards

CONE CELLS

light sensitive cells responding in well-lit conditions creating coloured and detailed images

CONVEX

curved outwards

CORNEA

clear tissue covers front of eye

DECIBEL

unit for loudness/intensity

ECHO

sound reflection

ECHOLOCATION

use of echos to determine the location of something

ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM

full range of electromagnetic waves from radio to gamma

EYELID

protects, lubricates, and regulates light entering the eye

FOCAL LENGTH

distance from a lens/mirror to the focal point

FOCAL POINT

where reflected/refracted rays (appear) to meet

FOCUS

bringing light together to make a clearer image

FREQUENCY

waves per second

HERTZ

unit of frequency

INCIDENT RAY

incoming light ray

IRIS

coloured part controls entry of light

LATERALLY INVERTED

reversed left and right

LAW OF REFLECTION

angle of incidence = angle of reflection

LENS

transparent solid to 'help' focus light onto the retina

LIGHT

form of energy part of the electromagnetic spectrum

MEDIUM

anything that can carry a wave

NERVE CELLS

sends chemical messages from retina to brain

NORMAL

imaginary line at 90° to where a light ray hits a surface

OPAQUE

object light can not pass through

OPTICAL ILLUSION

images making you think you see something that is not there

OPTIC NERVE

sends signals to brain

PRISM

triangular block used to disperse white light

REFLECTED RAY

light ray bouncing off a surface

REFRACTION

bending of light as it passes through a transparent medium

REFRACTED RAY

light ray entering a new medium

ROYGBIV

order of the spectrum from longest to shortest wavelength

RODS

light sensitive cells responding in dim lights creating black and white images

SONIC BOOM

noise made by something moving faster than the speed of sound

STEREOPHONIC

comparison of sounds received by two ears

SUSPENSORY LIGAMENTS

attaches lens to muscles

TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION

occurs when light is completely trapped within a medium

TRANSLUCENT

object light can partially pass through

TRANSMISSION

passing of light through a transparent substance

TRANSPARENT

object where light can easily pass through

VACUUM

place where there is nothing in it

VIBRATION

shake

WAVELENGTH

distance between two successive wave peaks