Optics

Electromagnetic Spectrum

The range of all types of electromagnetic radiation, including visible light, radio waves, microwaves, infrared, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays.

Reflection

The bouncing of light off a surface.

Refraction

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

Angle of Incidence

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

Reflected Ray

The ray that bounces off the surface after reflection.

Refracted Ray

The ray that bends after passing into a new medium.

Angle of Reflection

The angle between the reflected ray and the normal.

Plane Mirror (SALT)

Size: Same size; Attitude: Upright; Location: Same distance; Type: Virtual.

Concave Mirror (SALT)

Object Beyond C:smaller, Inverted, reduced, real; At C: Inverted, same size, real; Between C and F: Inverted, enlarged, real; At F: No image; Between F and Mirror: Upright, enlarged, virtual.

Convex Mirror (SALT)

Size: Smaller than the object; Attitude: Upright; Location: Virtual, behind the mirror; Type: Virtual.

Converging Lens Characteristics

Produces real or virtual images; thicker in the center.

Diverging Lens Characteristics

Always produces virtual images; thinner in the center.

Thin Lens Formula

1/f = 1/do + 1/di.

Index of Refraction

A measure of how much a ray of light bends when entering a material.

Total Internal Reflection

The complete reflection of a light ray back into its original medium when it hits the boundary at an angle greater than the critical angle.

Human Eye Parts

Cornea: Protects the eye and helps focus light; Lens: Focuses light onto the retina; Retina: Converts light to signals for the brain; Pupil: Regulates light entering the eye; Iris: Controls pupil size.

Myopia

Nearsightedness; light focuses in front of the retina and is corrected with diverging lenses.

Hyperopia

Farsightedness; light focuses behind the retina and is corrected with converging lenses.

Astigmatism

Irregular lens curvature causing distorted images, corrected with specially shaped lenses.

Presbyopia

The eye becomes hard and stiff eye can no longer accommodate close corrected with a converging lens