Physics Light Vocab Quiz 5/7/26

A form of energy that travels as both a wave and a ray

Light

A model that shows light traveling in straight lines

Ray Model of Light

The distance between two identical points on a wave

Wavelength

The range of wavelengths of light that humans can see

Visible Spectrum

The bending and separation of white light into colors

Dispersion

The bouncing of light off a surface

Reflection

Bending of light as it passes from one medium to another

Refraction

The angle at which light strikes a surface

Angle of Incidence

An imaginary line perpendicular to a surface

Normal

Reflection from a smooth surface that produces a clear image

Specular Reflection

Reflection from a rough surface that scatters light

Diffuse Reflection

A flat reflective surface

Plane Mirror

An image that appears behind a mirror and cannot be projected

Virtual Image

A mirror that curves inward and can form real or virtual images

Concave Mirror

A curved mirror that spreads light outward and always forms smaller images

Convex Mirror

A measure of how much light slows down in a material

Index of Refraction

The angle at which total internal reflection begins

Critical Angle

The bouncing of light off a surface

Total Internal Reflection

When waves overlap and continue

Interference

Spreading of light as it passes through an opening or around an object

Diffraction

A transparent object that brings light rays together

Convex Lens

A transparent object that spreads light rays apart

Concave Lens

The back of the eye where images are formed

Retina

A condition where distant objects are blurry (image forms in front of retina)

Nearsightedness

A condition where close objects are blurry (image forms behind retina)

Farsightedness