Geometrical Optics

Question 1

Reflection

Answer 1

the rebounding of incident light waves at the boundary of a medium

Question 2

law of reflection

Answer 2

states that the incident angle will equal the angle of reflection, as measured form the normal

Question 3

spherical mirrors

Answer 3

have centers and radii of curvature as well as focal points

Question 4

concave mirrors

Answer 4

are converging systems and can produce real, inverted images or virtual, upright images, depending on the placement of the object relative to the focus

Question 5

convex mirrors

Answer 5

are diverging systems and will only produce virtual, upright images

Question 6

plane mirrors

Answer 6

produces virtual, upright images; these images are always the same size as the object. they may be thought of as spherical mirrors with infinite radii of curvature.

Question 7

refraction

Answer 7

the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another. this speed change causes refraction

Question 8

the amount of refraction depends on the wavelength of the light involved; this behavior causes ____ of light through prism

Answer 8

dispersion

Question 9

Snell’s law (the law of refraction)

Answer 9

states that there is an inverse relationship between the index of refraction and the sine of the angle of refraction (measured from the normal)

Question 10

total internal reflection

Answer 10

occurs when light cannot be refracted out of a medium and is instead reflected back inside the medium

happens when light moves from a medium with a higher index of refraction to a medium with a lower index of refraction with a high incident angle

Question 11

critical angle

Answer 11

the minimum incident angle at which total internal reflection occurs

Question 12

lenses

Answer 12

refract light to form images of objects

thin symmetrical lenses have focal points on each side.

Question 13

convex lenses

Answer 13

are converging systems and can produce real, inverted images or virtual, upright images

Question 14

concave lenses

Answer 14

are diverging systems and will only produce virtual, upright images

Question 15

lenses with non - negligible thickness require use of the

Answer 15

lensmarker’s equation

Question 16

images created by a mirror can either be

Answer 16

real or virtue

Question 17

an image is said to be real if

Answer 17

the light actually converges at the position of the image

Question 18

an image is said to be virtue if

Answer 18

the light only appears to be coming form the position of the image but does not actually converge there.

Question 19

plane mirrors (flat reflective surfaces)

Answer 19

cause neither convergence nor divergence or elected light rays

Question 20

plane mirrors always create

Answer 20

virtual images

Question 21

center of curvature

Answer 21

a point on the optical axis located at a distance equal to the radio of curvature from the vertex of the mirror

Question 22

focal length (f)

Answer 22

the distance between the focal point (F) and the mirror

Question 23

using the image distance calculation,

if the image has positive distance (i>0), it is

Answer 23

a REAL image which implies that the imagine is in FRONT of the mirror

Question 24

using the image distance calculation,

if the image has negative distance (i

Answer 24

VIRTUAL and thus located behind the mirror

Question 25

a negative magnification signifies:

Answer 25

an INVERTED image

Question 26

a positive magnification signifies:

Answer 26

an UPRIGHT image

Question 27

ray diagram

Answer 27

useful for getting an approximation of where an image is

on MCAT, this diagram is helpful for a quick determination of the type of image that will be produced by an object some distnaacen from the mirror (real vs virtual, inverted bs upright, and magnified vs reduced).

Question 28

ray parallel to axis =

Answer 28

reflects back through focal point

Question 29

ray through focal point =

Answer 29

reflects back parallel to axis

Question 30

ray to center of mirror =

Answer 30

reflects back at some angle relative to normal

Question 31

Chromatic aberration

Answer 31

a dispersive effect within spherical lens

Question 32

Dispersion

Answer 32

when wavelengths of light separate from each other

Question 33

the component color in the dispersion prism that experienced the least amount of refraction:

Answer 33

red; therefore found at the top

Question 34

the component color in the dispersion prism that experienced the most amount of refraction:

Answer 34

violet; therefore found at the bottom

Question 35

NOTE:

Answer 35

as light enters the medium with a different index of refraction, the wavelength changes but the frequency of the light does not.

Question 36

spherical aberration

Answer 36

a blurring of the periphery of an image as a result of inadequate reflection of parallel beams at the edge of a mirror or inadequate refraction of parallel beams at the edge of the lens

Question 37

people who are near sighted need what type of lens?

Answer 37

diverging lens

Question 38

people who are far sighted need what type of lens?

Answer 38

converging lens

Question 39

myopia

Answer 39

nearsightedness

Question 40

hyperopia

Answer 40

farsightedness