Class 8 Flashcards
What kind of wave is light?
Electromagnetic
Do light waves need a medium to travel? Do sound?
Light waves do not, sound waves do
What two things can happen when light strikes a surface?
Reflection and/or refraction
All angles in light problems are relative to what?
“Surface normal” an imaginary line perpendicular to the surface
angle of incidence will be equal to ?
Angle of reflection
What is the index of refraction?
How much slower light travels through a medium than through a vacuum.
n = c/v medium
n_air = 1
What is the speed of light?
3 x10^8 m/s
What is the equation for angle of refraction between 2 substances?
n1sin(theta1) = n2sin(theta2)
What is the critical angle?
sin(thetac) = n2/n1
When theta is greater than theta_critical, you have total internal reflection and you get zero transmission/refraction
Total internal reflection can only occur if light is ________?
Speeding up
What is diffraction?
The spreading out of waves when they encounter an obstacle or aperture about the same size as their wavelength.
What is dispersion?
The effect that allows prisms to split up white light into its component ROYGBIV colors.
Do light waves have electric fields that oscillate equally in all directions perpendicular to the direction of propagation.
Yes
What is polarization?
Occurs when one direction of oscillation is privileged over another, whether by reflection or transmission through a special material or filter.
How do you solve for focal length?
1/f = 1/o + 1/i
o = distance to object i = distance to formed image