Refraction and Optical Phenomena

These flashcards encompass key vocabulary related to refraction and optical phenomena, aiding in the understanding of light behavior.

Refraction

The bending of light as it passes from one medium to another due to a change in its speed.

Critical Angle

The angle of incidence above which total internal reflection occurs.

Total Internal Reflection

The phenomenon where light is completely reflected back into a medium when it hits the boundary at an angle greater than the critical angle.

Dispersion

The separation of light into its component colors due to differences in refraction.

Mirage

An optical illusion caused by atmospheric refraction of light, making distant objects appear distorted or displaced.

Index of Refraction

A measure of how much a ray of light bends when it enters a material.

Optical Phenomena

Various visual effects involving the behavior of light, such as reflection, refraction, and dispersion.

Prism

A transparent optical element that refracts light and can separate it into its component colors.

Violet Light

The color of light that bends the most when passing through a prism.

Wavelength

The distance between successive peaks of a wave, relevant for understanding dispersion in light.