Light

Question 1

What phase difference is required for circular light polarization?

Answer 1

Ninety degrees.

Circular polarization occurs when two wave forms with equal amplitude and perpendicular linear polarization propagate 90 degrees out of phase to one another. Circularly polarized light has a uniform amplitude, but is constantly changing direction.

Question 2

Relative to the angle of incidence, how will the angle of refraction change when a monochromatic ray of light enters a medium of higher refractive index?

Answer 2

When light enters a higher refractive index, it will bend more. This results in a decrease in the angle of the light, because it travels slower in the new medium.

Question 3

What does it mean for the intensity of light to increase?

Answer 3

The intensity of light refers to its brightness. This means that the more photons we have, the higher the intensity. Make sure not to confuse this with the frequency of light!

Question 4

What is the wavelength range of the visible spectrum?

Answer 4

750nm (red) to 400nm (violet)

Question 5

What is diffraction?

Answer 5

Diffraction is the bending an spreading or light waves as they pass through a narrow slit.

Question 6

What did Young’s double-slit experiment show about constructive and destructive interference?

Answer 6

When light passes through parallel slits, it results in minima (dark fringes) and maxima (bright fringes) of intensity. Bright fringes result from constructive interference of lightwaves; dark fringes result from destructive interference.

Question 7

What is the speed of light?

Answer 7

3*10^8 m/s