Chapter 5 - Optics Flashcards
1
Q
What can the wave theory of light explain?
A
Reflection and refraction of light
2
Q
What do light rays represent?
A
The direction of travel of wavefronts
3
Q
What is the normal?
A
An imgainary line perpendicular to a boundary between two materials or a surface
4
Q
What is refraction?
A
The change of direction that occurs when light passes at an angle across a boundary between two transparent substances
5
Q
What happens when light passes from a less dense material to a more dense one (e.g. air to glass)
A
Light ray bends towards the normal
6
Q
What happens when light passes from a more dense material to a less dense one (e.g. glass to air)
A
Light ray bends away from the normal
7
Q
What happens when the incident ray is along the normal
A
No refraction takes place`
8
Q
What is Snell’s Law
A
- ratio of sin(i) to sin(r) is the same for each substance
- refractive index, n = sin(i)/sin(r)
9
Q
A
