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B1 2-physics > Optics > Flashcards

Optics Flashcards

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1
Q

What is light?

A

Electromagnetic radiation which is visible to the human eye

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2
Q

What do electromagnetic waves consist of?

A

A magnetic field and an electric field traveling together

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3
Q

What angle are magnetic fields and electric fields displaced at to each other?

A

90˚ following a sinusoidal pattern

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4
Q

The colour of light that can be perceived by the human eye are actually differences in?

A

Frequency or wavelength of the electromagnetic waves falling onto the retina

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5
Q

What colour does light go with a higher frequency of light?

A

Blue

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6
Q

When the frequency of light is too high for humans to see what happens to it?

A

It becomes ultra violet

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7
Q

What colour does light go with a lower frequency of light?

A

Red

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8
Q

What happens to the light when the frequency becomes too low?

A

It becomes infra-red

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9
Q

Can humans see ultra violet or infra-red?

A

No

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10
Q

What are light waves measured in?

A

Nanometres and angstroms

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11
Q

In nanometres what is the scale that humans can see in wavelengths?

A

400nm-700nm

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12
Q

Light is a type of?

A

Wave

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13
Q

What is the speed of light in a vacuum?

A

186,000miles per second or 300,000,000 metres per second

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14
Q

What happens to light speed when it travels through water, glass, and diamonds compared to a vacuum?

A

It gets slower

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15
Q

When light passes through matter the speed is?

A

Reduced

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16
Q

What is the equation for speed of light?

A

Wavelength x frequency

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17
Q

In an equation If the speed of light is not given to you what must you do?

A

Assume its traveling in a vacuum at 3x10^8 m/s

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18
Q

What is reflection?

A

That a light wave bounces back when it hits a different medium

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19
Q

The angle of incidence is equal to?

A

The angle of reflection

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20
Q

The incident ray, reflection ray, and normal all lie within?

A

The same plane

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21
Q

In relation to reflection what is does the word plane refer to?

A

A two-dimensional space

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22
Q

What are the two ways an image can be created by a reflection?

A

Real or virtual

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23
Q

What is a real image?

A

Can be projected onto a screen or wall

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24
Q

What is a virtual image?

A

An image that can only be seen looking into the optics and cannot be projected

25
Q

When a plane mirror is used what happens to the formed image?

A

-its the same size
-virtual image
-same distance behind as in front
-back to front but right way up

26
Q

What are the two types of spherical mirrors?

A

Concave and convex

27
Q

What direction does a convex mirror curve?

A

Outward, towards the light source

28
Q

What type of spherical mirror is used to make the image appear smaller?

A

Convex

29
Q

What type of spherical mirror is used to provide a wider field of view?

A

Convex

30
Q

What direction does a concave mirror curve?

A

Inwards, away from the light source

31
Q

What happens to an image if it is close to a concave mirror?

A

-magnified
-upright
-virtual

32
Q

What happens to an image if it is far away from a concave mirror?

A

-diminished
-inverted
-real image

33
Q

What is refraction?

A

Change in direction of a light wave when it enters a different medium

34
Q

Why does refraction happen?

A

When light crosses the boundary between two mediums, the change in speed causes the light to change direction

35
Q

What is the only exception for refraction not to take place?

A

When the ray is perpendicular to the surface (light changes speed but not direction)

36
Q

What is the refractive index of a material?

A

The ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum compared to the speed of light in the material

37
Q

What does a bigger refractive index mean?

A

The more light will bend when entering and leaving the material

38
Q

What is the equation for the refractive index?

A

Speed of light in a vacuum over the speed of light in the material

39
Q

What is snells law?

A

A formula used to describe the relationship between the angles of incidence and refraction

40
Q

What is a lense?

A

An optical device that refracts light

41
Q

What is a lense used for?

A

To form an image

42
Q

How do lenses form images?

A

The same way as curved mirrors but by refraction rather than reflection

43
Q

What are convex lenses also referred to as?

A

A converging lens

44
Q

What is special about the thickness of a convex lens?

A

It is thicker at its centre compared to the edges

45
Q

What type of image does a convex lens form?

A

A real or virtual image depending on the positions of the object and the observer

46
Q

What is a concave lens also referred to as?

A

Diverging lens

47
Q

What is special about the thickness of a concave lens?

A

It is thinner at its centre

48
Q

What image is formed by a concave lens?

A

Always upright, virtual, and diminished

49
Q

What does fibre optics transmit?

A

Light through fibres

50
Q

How does fibre optic cables work?

A

The information is converted to a light signal and transmitted along a fibre at the speed of light. Once at the end the signal is reconverted into information

51
Q

How big is a fibre optic strand?

A

The same as a piece of hair

52
Q

What are fibre optic strands made from?

A

Glass or plastic

53
Q

What are the advantages that fibre optics have over metal wires?

A

-lighter and smaller
-carry more information
-intrinsically safer

54
Q

What are the main disadvantages of fibre optic?

A

Difficult to terminate and difficult to repair due to size

55
Q

Why does fibre optic strands have a core with a high refractive index?

A

So all the light is reflected back into the fibre

56
Q

Why does a fibre optic strand have cladding with a low refractive index?

A

So as little light is lost

57
Q

What is internal reflection?

A

The core and cladding strengths in a fibre optic cable

58
Q

Where is the greatest loss of signal occur in fibre optics?

A

At connectors and couplings

B1 2-physics (4 decks)

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