Optics Flashcards
What is light?
A type of electromagnetic radiation
What is electromagnetic radiation?
A type of energy made up of waves that travel all around us
What is the law of rectilinear propagation?
A law that says that light usually only travels in a straight line
What is a unit of light called?
A photon
How do the sun and the stars make light?
The electrons in their atoms heat up and jump to bigger orbits. When they eventually cool down and return to their original orbit, they emit light
What determines the color of these photons?
How large the jump between the orbits was. The bigger the jump, the higher the energy
Does light act as a particle or wave?
It can act as both
What does ROYGBIV mean?
Its an acronym that shows the different wavelengths of colors from longest to shortest
What can happen to light when it passes through materials?
It can either be absorbed, transmitted, or reflected
What are the 3 additive primary colors?
Red, green, blue
What are the three secondary colors?
magenta: red+blue
yellow: red+green
cyan: blue+green
What does it mean when an object is translucent?
It transmits some light
What does it mean when an object is transparent?
it transmits all light
What does it mean when an object is opaque?
it transmits no light
What is the electromagnetic spectrum?
All the different types of waves arranged according to their wavelengths
What makes white light?
When red, green, and blue are mixed
If magenta and cyan are mixed, which color will be reflected?
Blue, because they both have blue in common
If magenta and yellow are mixed, which color is reflected?
Red
How is black formed?
When red, blue, and green are mixed, it will absorb all 3 primary colors of light, making it look black
What is subtractive theory?
How White light light is absorbed and reflected off coloured surfaces
What is a concave lens?
A lens that diverges light rays from a focal point
What is a convex lens?
A lens that converges light rays from a focal point
What is a concave mirror?
A mirror that curves inwards
What is a convex mirror?
A mirror that curve outward
What is the pupil?
The black part of the eye that allows light to enter the eye
What is the iris?
The colored muscle that controls the size of the pupil
What is the sclera?
The white of the eye which maintains size and form and is attached to the muscles of the eye
What is the cornea?
The coating of the eye that covers the pupil and iris
What is the lens?
A transparent disc shaped converging lens located behind the opening of the pupil
What is the vitreous humor?
A transparent jelly fluid which makes up most of the eye
What is the retina?
The inner layer of the eye which contains rods and cones
