Chapter 3 Light Flashcards
what is reflection
when incident waves at a boundary change direction returning into the same medium according to the law of reflection
what is the law of reflection
states that the angle of incident and the angle of reflection are equal.
what are the two types of reflection
specular reflection (smooth surface)
diffuse reflection(bumpy/ uneven surface)
what is refraction
the ‘bending’ or change in direction of waves due to interactions with different mediums.
occurs when there is a change in the speed of the wave
what is colour dispersion
when white light undergoes refraction the different wavelengths undergo different changes of direction and the white light splits up into the different colors.
what is polarisation
when when transverse light waves are all vibrating on one plane.
