Imaging and Signalling Flashcards
Refraction
Occurs at a boundary when a wave changes speed. Bent towards/away from the normal. If light is slowing down (less optically dense to more optically dense), bends towards normal
Optical density
The more optically dense a material is, the slower light will travel in it
Absolute refractive index=
c/v (where c speed of light in a vacuum, and v is speed of light in the material)
What do lenses do?
Change the curvature of wavefronts by refraction.
Uncurved waves through a lens
If waves are uncurved when passing through a lens, and pass through at 90deg to the lens (parallel to the lens axis), they will be given spherical curvature, centred on the focal point of the lens
Focal length
Distance between lens axis and focal point.
Power of a lens=
1/f (f is the focal length. Power measured in dioptres, D. According to equation, more powerful - thicker - lenses have a shorter focal length, as they curve the wavefront more)
Power of a lens
How much curvature a lens adds to a wave passing through it
Curvature of a wave=
1/radius of curvature
Lens equation:
1/v = 1/u + 1/f (where v is the image distance, u is the object distance and f is the focal length)
What must you remember when using the lens equation?
Measure distances to the left of the lens axis as negative, and the distances to the right of the lens axis as positive - cartesian convention. Always measure distances from the lens axis
Linear magnification=
size of image/size of object = v/u
Wave equation:
v=f(lamda). Derived from v=d/t, where d is (lamda) and t is 1/f (speed is velocity)
Transverse waves
Medium oscillates at right angles to the direction of travel. E.g. EM waves
Longitudinal waves
Medium oscillates parallel to the direction of travel. E.g. sound waves
Bit
A single binary digit
Byte
8 binay digits - 8 bits
Number of alternatives=
2^number of bits (N=2^I)