Principles of optics

Question 1

The branch of physical science that deals with the properties of light and vision is called

Answer 1

Optics

Question 2

The study of optics that describes the nature of light in terms of its wave properties is called

Answer 2

Physical optics

Question 3

The area of optics that deals with the transmission of light as rays and is concerned with the effect of lenses on light and the production of images is called

Answer 3

Geometric optics

Question 4

Radiation produced through the combination of electrical and magnetic forces; includes rays from the shortest to longest wavelengths, both visible and invisible

Answer 4

electromagnetic radiation

Question 5

The wavelengths of light visible to the human eye range from ___ to ___ billionths of a meter on the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation

Answer 5

400 to 750 billionths of a meter (nanometers)

Question 6

Substances that completely block light are called

Answer 6

Opaque

Question 7

Those that transmit light but significantly interfere with its passage are known as

Answer 7

Tranluscent

Question 8

Those substances that permit the passage of light without significant disruption are

Answer 8

Transparent

Question 9

In physics, the bending of a light ray as it passes through substances of different densities is called

Answer 9

Refraction

Question 10

A lens property that increases the effectiveness to bend light is called

Answer 10

Optical density

Question 11

The ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to its speed through a specific substance is called

Answer 11

Refractive index

Question 12

A triangular piece of glass or plastic with flat sides, an apex, and a base

Answer 12

Prism

Question 13

A piece of glass or plastic in which one or both surfaces are curved inward. Also called a negative lens or minus lens

Answer 13

Concave lens

Question 14

A piece of glass or plastic in which one or both surfaces are curved outward. Also called positive lens or plus lens

Answer 14

Convex lens

Question 15

Referring to rays that travel side by side in the same direction, neither diverging nor converging

Answer 15

Parallel

Question 16

The pathway of a light ray that strikes the center of a lens of any shape and passes undeviated through the lens material

Answer 16

Principal axis

Question 17

A light ray that strikes the center of a lens of any shape and passes undeviated through the lens material. Also called principal ray.

Answer 17

Axial ray

Question 18

Light rays that enter a lens system away from the center

Answer 18

Paraxial rays

Question 19

The point somewhere along the principal axis at which the paraxial rays from a distant source are refracted by a lens and converge in the case of a convex lens and diverge in the case of a concave lens

Answer 19

Focal point

Question 20

The image formed by a concave lens when the paraxial rays from a distant source are refracted and diverge

Answer 20

Virtual image

Question 21

The measure of a lens’s ability to converge or diverge light rays. Also simply referred to as “power”

Answer 21

Vergence power

Question 22

The distance between the focal point and the lens

Answer 22

Focal length

Question 23

The unit of measure of the power of a lens

Answer 23

Diopter