Physics Ch 8. Light and Optics Flashcards
Electromagnetic waves
Transverse waves that consist of an oscillating electric field and an oscillating magnetic field, the two fields are perpendicular to each other into the direction of the propagation of the wave
Electromagnetic spectrum
The range of frequencies and wave links found in EM waves, from lowest to highest energy includes Radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, x-rays, and gamma rays
Visible spectrum
Runs from approximately 400 nm (violet) to 700 nm (red)
Reflection
Rebounding of incident light waves at the boundary of a medium
Law of reflection
States that the incident angle will equal the angle of reflection as measured from the normal
Spherical mirrors
Have centers in radio of curvature as well as focal points
Concave mirrors
Are converging systems and can produce real, inverted images or virtual, upright images depending on the placement of the object relative to the focal point
Convex mirrors
Are diverging systems and will only produce virtual, upright images
Plane mirrors
Also produce virtual, upright images, these images are always the same size as the object, they may be thought of as spherical mirrors with an infinite radio of curvature
Refraction
The bending of light as it passes from one medium to another, the speed of light changes depending on the index of refraction of the medium, this speed change is what causes refraction, the amount of refraction depends on the wavelength of the light involved, this behavior causes dispersion of light through a prism
Snell’s law
aka the law of refraction, states that there is an inverse relationship between index of refraction in the sine of the angle of refraction measured from the normal
Total internal reflection
Occurs when light cannot be refracted out of the medium anderson Stead reflected back into the medium, this happens when light moves from a medium with a higher index of refraction to a medium with a lower index of refraction with a high incidence angle
Critical angle
The minimum incident angle at which total internal reflection occurs
Lenses
Refract light to form objects of images
Thin symmetrical lenses
Have focal points on each side
Convex lenses
Are converging systems that can produce real, inverted images or virtual, upright images