Physics and Math - Optics and Light

MCAT Chapter 8

eleectromagnetic waves

transverse waves because the oscillating electric and magnetic field vectros are perpindicular to the direction of propagation

Electromagnetic Spectrum

full range of frequencies and wavelenght of electromagnetic waves

Visible Region

part of spectrum percieved as light to human eye

blackbody

ideal absorber of all wavelength of light

retilinear Propagation

when light travels through a homogenous medium travel in straight line

Reflection

Rebounding of incident light waves at the boundary of a medium

Normal

line drawn perpindicualr to the boundary of a medium

real

light converges at position of image

Center of Curvature

point on the optical axis location at a distance equal to the radius of curvature from vertex of mirror

Focal length

distance between focal point and the mirror

Magnification

dimensionless value ratio of image distance to object distance

What positive o means (mirror)

object in front of mirror

What negative o means (mirror)

object behind mirror

What positive i means (mirror)

image in front of mirror (real)

What negative i means (mirror)

image behind mirror (virtual)

What positive r means (mirror)

mirror concave (converging)

What negative r means (mirror)

mirror convex (diverging)

What positive f means (mirror)

mirror concanve (converging)

what negative f means (mirror)

mirror is convex (diverging)

What positive m means (mirror)

image upright

What negative m means (mirror)

Image inverted

Refraction

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

Total Internal reflection

all light incident on boundary is reflected back to original material, results with any angle of incidence greater than critical angle

what positive o means (lens)

object on same side of lens as light source

What negative o means (lens)

object on opposite side of lens from light source

what positive i means (lens)

image on opposite side of lens from light source (real)

what negative i means (lens)

image on same side of lens as light source (virtual)

what positive r means (lens)

len convex (converging)

What negative r means (lens)

lens concanve

What positive f means (lens)

lens convex (converging)

what negative f means (lens)

lens concave

what positive m means (lens)

image upright

what negative m means (lens)

image inverted

Spherical aberration

blurring of periphery of image as result of inadequate reflection of parallel beam at edge of a mirror

Dispersior

various wavelength of light separate from each other

Chromatic aberrator

dispersive effect within spherical lens

Diffraction gratings

consist of multiple slits arrange in patterns

plane polarized light

all light rays have electric fields with parallel orientation

circulary polarized light

light ray have electric field with equal intensity by constantly rotating direction