Optics pt.1

Question 1

What are the two types of light? Give examples

Answer 1

Natural: sun and organisms

Artificial: combustion and light bulbs (incandescent, sodium vapour, fluorescent)

Question 2

What is luminescence?

Answer 2

Light that is generated without heat

Question 3

What is phosphorescence?

Answer 3

Light emitted for some time after ultraviolet radiation has stopped. eg; glow in the dark

Question 4

What is chemiluminescence?

Answer 4

Light generated by energy released during a chemical reaction. eg; glow sticks

Question 5

Bioluminescence

Answer 5

Light produced by living organisms. eg; fire flys, jellyfish

Question 6

What is fluorescence?

Answer 6

Emission of light by a substance that absorbs UV radiation. Molecules go into an excited state then lose their energy in the form of heat and light. eg; highlighter

Question 7

What is a wave?

Answer 7

A disturbance that transfers energy from one point to another without transferring matter

Question 8

What is the crest?

Answer 8

The biggest point on the wave

Question 9

What is the trough?

Answer 9

The lowest point on the wave

Question 10

What is the amplitude?

Answer 10

The waves height

Question 11

What is the wavelength?

Answer 11

Distance between one crest to the next

Question 12

What does frequency mean?

Answer 12

Number of wavelengths per second.
Symbol = y Units = Hz or s1

Question 13

Short wavelength has..

Answer 13

High frequency

Question 14

Long wavelength has..

Answer 14

Low frequency

Question 15

How does light behave?

Answer 15

both as a wave and particle

Question 16

The shorter the wavelength..

Answer 16

The more energy the radiation possesses

Question 17

Which electromagnetic rays have a long wavelength?

Answer 17

Radio, microwave, infrared

Question 18

Which electromagnetic rays have a short wavelength?

Answer 18

Visible, ultraviolet, X-ray, gamma

Question 19

What does plane mean?

Answer 19

Flat