Wave Optics and Light Behavior: Reflection, Refraction, and Dispersion

Reflection

The bouncing back of light when it hits a surface.

Refraction

The bending of light as it passes from one medium to another.

Diffraction

The spreading of waves around obstacles or through openings.

Dispersion

The separation of white light into its component colors.

Total Internal Reflection

The complete reflection of light within a medium when it hits the boundary at an angle greater than the critical angle.

Speed of Light

The speed at which light travels in different media.

Longitudinal Waves

Waves where the particle motion is parallel to the direction of wave propagation.

Transverse Waves

Waves where the particle motion is perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation.

Frequency

The number of waves that pass a point in one second.

Wavelength

The distance between successive crests of a wave.

Period

The time taken for one complete wave cycle to pass a point.

Amplitude

The maximum displacement of points on a wave from the rest position.

Wavefront

A surface over which an oscillation has a constant phase.

Optical Density

A measure of how much a medium slows down light compared to vacuum.

Critical Angle

The angle of incidence above which total internal reflection occurs.

Real Image

An image that can be projected onto a screen.

Virtual Image

An image that cannot be projected onto a screen.

Spectrum

The range of different colors produced when white light is dispersed.

Lateral Inversion

The reversal of the left and right sides of an image.

What is frequency in wave terminology?

Frequency is the number of cycles of a wave that occur in a unit of time, typically measured in Hertz (Hz).

Define pitch in relation to sound waves.

Pitch is the perceived frequency of a sound, determining how high or low it sounds.

What is wavelength?

Wavelength is the distance between successive crests or troughs of a wave.

What does the period of a wave represent?

The period is the time it takes for one complete cycle of the wave to pass a given point.

What are the peak and trough of a wave?

The peak is the highest point of a wave, while the trough is the lowest point.

Differentiate between wavefront and wave.

A wavefront is a surface over which an oscillation has a constant phase, while a wave is the disturbance that travels through a medium.

What is the difference between a medium and a vacuum?

A medium is a substance through which waves can travel, while a vacuum is a space devoid of matter.

How do particle motion and wave velocity differ?

Particle motion refers to the movement of individual particles in the medium, while wave velocity is the speed at which the wave itself travels through the medium.

What is reflection in wave behavior?

Reflection is the bouncing back of a wave when it hits a barrier.

Define refraction.

Refraction is the bending of a wave as it passes from one medium to another due to a change in speed.

What is diffraction?

Diffraction is the spreading of waves when they encounter an obstacle or pass through an opening.

Explain dispersion in the context of waves.

Dispersion is the separation of waves into their component frequencies, often seen in light passing through a prism.

What is the normal line in wave diagrams?

The normal line is an imaginary line perpendicular to the surface at the point of incidence.

What are the angles of incidence, refraction, and reflection?

The angle of incidence is the angle between the incoming wave and the normal, the angle of refraction is the angle between the refracted wave and the normal, and the angle of reflection is the angle between the reflected wave and the normal.

Define optical density.

Optical density is a measure of how much a medium can slow down light, affecting the speed and wavelength of the wave.

What is the critical angle?

The critical angle is the angle of incidence above which total internal reflection occurs.

Explain total internal reflection.

Total internal reflection occurs when a wave hits a boundary at an angle greater than the critical angle, causing it to reflect entirely back into the medium.

What is lateral inversion?

Lateral inversion is the reversal of an image from left to right, commonly observed in mirrors.

Differentiate between real and virtual images.

A real image can be projected onto a screen and is formed by converging light rays, while a virtual image cannot be projected and is formed by diverging light rays.

What is a spectrum?

A spectrum is a range of different frequencies or wavelengths of waves, often seen in light as a range of colors.

What calculations can be performed with frequency, period, wavelength, and velocity?

You can calculate one of these values if the other three are known, using the relationships: frequency = velocity/wavelength and period = 1/frequency.

What is required to draw a ray diagram for a flat or curved mirror?

A ray diagram should include incident rays, reflected rays, the normal line, and the location of the image.

How does wavelength affect diffraction?

Longer wavelengths experience more diffraction than shorter wavelengths when encountering obstacles.

What are the objectives related to echo situations in optics?

Explain and calculate values involved in echo situations.

What should be included in ray diagrams for mirrors?

Labelled ray diagrams for flat mirrors or curved mirrors with light rays or wave-fronts, including 2-ray diagrams to show the location of the image behind the mirror.

What is required in ray diagrams for light refraction?

Labelled ray diagrams for light ray refracting, including air-glass-air with a ray parallel at the end and 2-ray diagrams to show the location of the image underwater.

How does refraction relate to changes in speed and wavelength?

Refraction involves changes in speed, optical density, and wavelength, while frequency remains constant; longer wavelengths (red) reflect less than shorter wavelengths (blue) due to speed differences.

What conditions are required for critical angle and total internal reflection (TIR)?

Labelled diagrams showing conditions for critical angle and TIR, along with uses of TIR.

What happens when white light passes through a prism?

A labelled diagram explaining how white light into a prism creates a spectrum.

What are the two types of wave diagrams that should be drawn?

Labelled diagrams of transverse and longitudinal waves.

How does particle motion differ between transverse and longitudinal waves?

Transverse waves involve particle motion perpendicular to wave direction, while longitudinal waves involve particle motion parallel to wave direction.

What is the significance of wavelength in diffraction?

Draw diffraction wave-front diagrams and explain the importance of wavelength to the amount of diffraction.

How does frequency affect diffraction?

Compare two different frequencies (or wavelengths) and describe how much diffraction occurs.