Homework 01- Reflection and Refraction Flashcards

Vocabulary terms and standard physical constants from the Reflection and Refraction homework notes, including index of refraction values, ratios for light properties in media, and prism geometry.

Quest Numerical Accuracy

The standard expectation for numerical values to be within $1\%$ of the expected answer, typically requiring 3 or more digits.

Sun-Earth Distance

The distance used in calculations for light travel time, provided as $1.5 \times 10^{8}\,km$.

Index of Refraction for Water (Problem 003)

The value given for water in calculations involving light travel time from the sun, specified as $1.37$.

Parallel Ray Segments Rule

In a three-substance system (1, 2, and 3), if the ray segments in substance 1 and substance 3 are parallel, it can be concluded that $n_1\text{ must be the same as }n_3$.

Frequency Ratio ($f'/f$)

The ratio of the frequency of oscillations in a liquid to that in the air, which is equal to $1$ because frequency does not change during refraction.

Wavelength Ratio ($\lambda'/\lambda$)

The ratio of the wavelength in a liquid to that in the air, which for an index of refraction of $1.5$ is $\frac{1}{1.5}$.

Traveling Speed Ratio ($v'/c$)

The ratio of traveling speeds in a liquid relative to the speed of light in a vacuum/air, which for an index of refraction of $1.5$ is $\frac{1}{1.5}$.

Flint Glass Index of Refraction

The physical constant given for flint glass in refraction calculations as $1.61$.

Ethanol Index of Refraction

The physical constant given for ethanol in refraction calculations as $1.36$.

Plate of Glass Deviation ($d$)

The displacement of a light beam after passing through a glass plate with thickness $2.55\,cm$ and refractive index $1.57$.

Silica Prism Index of Refraction

The specific value given for light of wavelength $1100\,nm$ passing through a silica prism, stated as $1.455$.

Apex Angle (\phi)

The top angle of a prism, which in the provided silica prism problem is $60.1^{\circ}$.

Dispersion in Glass

The phenomenon where different wavelengths have different indices: $1.653$ for blue light ($430\,nm$) and $1.618$ for red light ($680\,nm$).

Critical Angle

The angle of incidence above which total internal reflection occurs, calculated using $n_{fiber} = 2.06$ and $n_{water} = 1.34$ for a submerged cable.

Light Pipe Diameter

The thickness of the light pipe used in total internal reflection problems, given as $4.73\,\mu m$.

Total Internal Reflection (TIR)

A condition occurring in a prism ($n = 1.74$) when the fluid surrounding it has an index of refraction below a specific maximum threshold.