Light Flashcards
electromagnetic radiation that has properties of waves and particles
light
boucing off of light
reflection
occurs when the reflective surface is very smooth
specular reflection
occurs when light hits a rough surface
doffuse reflection
the transfer of energy carried by the light waves to the particles of matter
absorption
dispersal of reflected light
diffusion
reflection of light by particles
scattering
TRUE OR FALSE: The law of reflection is strictly observed when the reflecting surface is rough
False, it’s smooth
bending of light
refraction
is the effect associated with the separation of light into colors by a prism
dispersion
is a space in which there is no matter, or in which the pressure is so low that particles in it do not effect any processes being carried on there
vacuum
phenomenon wherein the incident rays striking the boundary of two media are reflected back into the first medium and the bounding surface acts like a perfect reflector
total internal reflection
TRUE OR FALSE: The angle of refraction increases as the angle of incidence increases
True
formed when light strikes a reflecting surface such as a mirror or a lens
images
occur when light rays actually intersect at the image, making them appear inverted or upside down
real images
occur when light rays do not meet at the image, but because the eye projects light rays backwards, we are tricked into seeing an image that is erect or right side up
virtual images
two basic types of mirrors
flat and spherical
consists of a flat, two dimensional surface that reflects the light coming from or reflecting off another object
plane mirrors
TRUE OR FALSE: the image is always the same distance behind the mirror as the object is in front of the mirror
true
traces the path that light takes in order for an individual to view a point on the image of an object
ray diagram
the center of the circle in which the mirror represents a small arc
center of curvature (C)
the point where the parallel light rays converge
focus (F)
the point where the mirror crosses the principal axis
vertex (V)
a line drawn through the vertex, focus, and the center of curvature of the mirror upon which the object rests
principal axis
the distance from the focus to the vertex of the mirror
focal length (f)
the distance from the center of curvature to the vertex of the mirror; it corresponds to the radius of the circle
radius of curvature
to be able to describe the location, size, orientation, and the type of image formed by concave of a concave mirror, the technique used is
ray diagramming
is the ray that leaves a point on an object facing the mirror parallel to the principal axis
principal ray
is the ray that leaves the same point on the object and immediately passes through the focal point, hitting the mirror and reflecting parallel to the principal axis
focal point
ray that leaves the same point on the object and passes through the center of curvature of the mirror
chief ray
is the process of making something looks bigger than it is
magnification
lens that is thicker in the middle
converging/convex lens
lens that is thicker on the sides
diverging/concave lens
formed when light refracts as it encounters a boundary between two different materials
images
part of a lens that is the line joining the centers of curvature of its surface
principal axis
a shaped transparent material that refracts light to create an image
lens
are devices that extend human vision through the use of mirrors and lenses to reflect and refract light and form images
optical instruments
the word camera evolves from a latin term meaning
dark chamber
TRUE OR FALSE: the mechanisms of a camera are based on the fundamentals of refraction
False, reflection
is an optical device that has the ability to make faraway objects appear much closer
telescope
the ability of the telescope to gather or collect light is through ______
aperture
telescope’s ability to enlarge an image depends of the combination of lenses used
telescope’s magnification
most important aspect of any telescope
aperture
it is the diameter of the telescope’s main optical component which can be either a lens or a mirror
aperture
it determines the telescope’s light0gathering activity or how bright the image appears
aperture
is composed of two identical mirrors mounted side by side aligned to point accurately in the same direction, allowing the viwer to use both eyes when viewing distant objects
binoculars
is located at the big end of the binocular
objective lens assembly
is the part that is placed by the eyes
eyepiece lens assembly
is commonly known as the prism assembly, which insure that the image is properly oriented and not inverted or laterally reversed
image orientation correction
