Light and Optics Review

Flashcards based on the lecture notes about light, reflection, refraction, lenses and dispersion.

Reflection

The change in direction of light at a shiny surface.

Ray Model of Light

Light travels in straight lines.

Absorption

When materials take in light, often converting it to heat.

Transmission

When light passes through a transparent material.

Ray Diagram

Represents possible paths light can take from a source to an observer or screen.

Angle of Incidence

The angle at which incoming light hits a mirror.

Angle of Reflection

The angle at which light leaves a mirror.

Law of Reflection

Angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection.

Characteristics of a Plane Mirror Image

Upright, same size, laterally inverted, same distance behind the mirror.

Pinhole Camera

A simple device that captures images without a lens, based on light traveling in straight lines.

Refraction

Bending of light rays when they travel from one medium to another.

Incident Ray

Ray approaching the boundary between two materials.

Refracted Ray

Ray leaving the boundary between two materials (after refraction).

Refractive Index

Measure of how much light slows or is bent when passing through a material.

small angle of incidence

The angle of incidence is small, so most of the light emerges from the block. There is a faint reflected ray inside the glass block.

increased angle of incidence

the angle of incidence has increased, so more light is reflected inside the block. The refracted ray bends even further away from the normal.

critical angle

The refracted ray emerges along and parallel to the surface of the block for a particular angle of incidence

Total Internal Reflection

100% of light is reflected inside the glass

Critical Angle

The angle of incidence where light refracts along the boundary

converging lenses

fatter in the middle than at the edges

diverging lenses

thinner in the middle than at the edges

principal focus

point where parallel rays of light are brought to a focus

focal length

distance from the lens to the principal focus

Monochromatic

Light of a single color

Dispersion

Splitting of white light into a spectrum of colors.