Refraction and Lenses

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to refraction and lenses, derived from lecture notes.

Refraction

The bending of a wave disturbance as it passes from one medium into another.

Virtual Image

An image that cannot be projected on a screen and appears to be behind the lens.

Converging Lens

A lens that brings parallel rays of light to a focal point.

Diverging Lens

A lens that causes parallel rays of light to spread apart.

Focal Point

The point at which rays of light converge after being refracted by a lens.

Total Internal Reflection

The phenomenon that occurs when a light ray hits a boundary at an angle greater than the critical angle and is completely reflected.

Index of Refraction

A measure of how much the speed of light is reduced in a medium compared to its speed in a vacuum.

Beam of Light

A group of light rays that travel in the same direction.

Angle of Incidence

The angle between the incident ray and the normal at the boundary.

Critical Angle

The angle of incidence that provides an angle of refraction of 90 degrees.

Magnification

The ratio of the size of the image to the size of the object.

Spectrum

A range of different colors that is produced when light is dispersed.