Physics: Light - Reflection and Refraction

Vocabulary flashcards covering the fundamental concepts of reflection through mirrors and the principles of refraction as detailed in the lecture transcript.

Spherical mirrors

Mirrors whose reflecting surfaces are part of a sphere; they come in two types: concave and convex.

Converging behavior

The behavior exhibited by a concave mirror where incident parallel rays meet at a single point after reflection.

Diverging behavior

The behavior exhibited by a convex mirror where incident parallel rays appear to spread out from a point after reflection.

Relation between $F$ and $R$

The mathematical relationship where the focal length ($F$) is typically half the radius of curvature ($R$).

Mirror Formula

The central formula used to calculate image distance ($v$), object distance ($u$), and focal length ($f$) in spherical mirrors.

Sign convention in mirrors

A set of rules for distinguishing the direction of distances (positive or negative) used as a base building for numerical problems.

Magnification of mirrors

The ratio of the height of an image to the height of the object, indicating how much the image is enlarged or reduced.

Refraction

The phenomenon that occurs when light enters from one medium to another, caused by a change in the speed of light.

Refractive index

A measure of the bending of a light ray when passing from one medium to another, which can be expressed in absolute or relative terms.

Absolute refractive index

The refractive index of a medium when the first medium is a vacuum or air.

Relative refractive index

The refractive index of a second medium with respect to a first medium other than vacuum or air.

Density of medium

The optical density of a material which affects the refractive index and the speed of light passing through it.