light waves Flashcards
what is a light wave
an electromagnetic wave that is visible to the human eye
when light hits an object what can happen
reflect, refract or be absorbed
what is reflection
rebounding of light that occurs when light rays hit a different medium and bounce to the medium it came from
incident ray
one that comes from the light source to hit the surface of the object
reflected ray
ray that bounces back
normal
a line perpendicular to the surface at the point of reflection
angle of incidence
the angle between the incident ray and normal
angle of reflection
ray between the normal and the reflected ray
plane
the surface containing all the straight lines that connect any two points on it
what are the laws of reflection
- ## the angle of incidence is always the same as the angle of reflection
what is a diffuse reflection
- reflection in all directions
- does not respect the laws of reflection
- hitting a bumpy surface
what is a specular reflection
-follows all the laws of reflection because it is hitting a flat surface
what are the laws of specular reflection
- image is virtual
- image is the same size as the object
- image behind the mirror appears to be the same distance as the one in front of the mirror
- image is horizontally reflected
what is refraction
- deviation of a light ray as it passes from one medium to another
- changes the way we see an object
what is a converging lens
- bring the light ays together