1.3 Refractive Index Flashcards
Why does refraction take place?
Because waves change speed when they cross from a boundary, which causes a change in direction
What is the exception for refraction?
The waves are travelling along the normal
What is the normal?
The non existent line perpendicular to the length of the material where the waves are entering
Where does the light wave refract if the change in density was from less to more dense?
Directed towards the normal
Where does the light wave refract if the change in density is from more to less dense?
Directed away from the normal
What is the refractive index of a substance?
The measure of how much a substance can refract a light Ray
What is the equation for the refractive index?
Snells law/Refractive Index: sinI/sinR
Where I is the angle of incidence
And R is the angle of refraction
Where is the angle of incidence?
Where the light enters the new substance
What is the angle of refraction?
Where the light waves are refracted in the substance
What is refraction?
The change of direction of light as it passes from one transparent substance into another
