Laws of Reflection & Mirrors Definitions Flashcards
what is a light ray?
a line on a diagram representing the direction and path that light is traveling
what is geometric optics?
the use of light rays to determine how light behaves when it Strikes objects
what is incident light?
light emitted from a source that strikes an object
what is transparent?
when a material transmits all or almost all incident light; objects can be clearly seen through the material
what is translucent?
when a material transmits some incident light but absorbs or reflects the rest; objects are not clearly seen through the material
what is opaque?
when a material does not transmit any incident light; all incident light is either absorbed or reflected; objects behind the material cannot be seen at all.
what is an image?
reproduction of an object through the use of light
what is a mirror?
any polished surface reflecting an image
what is a reflection?
the bouncing back of light from a surface
what is an incident ray?
the incoming ray that strikes a surface
what is reflected ray?
the ray that bounces off a reflective surface
what is a normal?
the perpendicular line to a mirror surface
what is a perpendicular?
at right angles
what is the angle of incidence?
the angle between the incident ray and the normal
what is the angle of reflection?
the angle between the reflected ray and the normal
what is the specular reflection?
reflection of light off a smooth surface
what is a diffuse reflection?
reflection of light off an irregular or dull surface
what is diverge?
to spread apart
what is a concave (converging) mirror?
a mirror shaped like part of the surface of a sphere in which the inner surface is reflective
what is a convex (diverging) mirror?
a mirror shaped like part of the surface of a sphere in which the outer surface is reflective
what is a principal axis?
the line through the centre of curvature to the midpoint of the mirror vertex the point where the principal axis meets the mirror
what is converge?
to meet at a common point
