Light and Optics Review

These flashcards cover key concepts in light and optics, including reflection, refraction, critical angles, and applications of total internal reflection.

What is the term for the angle of incidence that makes the angle of refraction equal to 90° in a shallow medium?

Critical angle (C)

What phenomenon occurs when light is reflected entirely within a medium, with no refraction?

Total Internal Reflection (TIR)

What is the refractive index of glass if n=1.5?

The refractive index (n) is a unitless value that indicates how much light slows down in a medium compared to a vacuum.

What is dispersion in the context of light?

Dispersion is the splitting of white light into the seven spectrum colors.

What type of optical device uses Total Internal Reflection (TIR) for visual applications?

Periscope and optical fibers.

In the context of refraction, what does a change in wavelength indicate?

Different colors of light have different speeds in the medium, causing them to refract at different angles.

What happens to the path of light when it passes through a glass prism?

The light gets split into its constituent colors, creating a spectrum.

What characteristics define an image produced by a mirror in a physics context?

The image is virtual, upright, the same size as the object, and equidistant from the mirror.

How do you calculate the angle of refraction using the refractive index?

Using Snell's law: n = V = A₁ = Sin(θ₁) / Sin(θ₂) where θ is the angle of incidence and refraction.

What applications utilize the principles of Total Internal Reflection?

Applications include endoscopes and telecommunications using light pulses.