refraction Flashcards
What is refraction?
Bending of light as it travels at an angle.
How do light rays bend?
When they decrease/increase in speed, move at an angle from 1 medium to another.
How does light travel in a single medium?
Always a straight line.
How does light travel from one medium to another?
Fastest pathway is not a straight line
What is a refracted ray?
Ray that is bent upon entering a 2nd medium
What is the angle of refraction?
Angle between the normal and refracted ray
How does the ray bend when it goes from fast to slow?
Bends towards the normal
How does the ray bend when it goes from slow to fast?
Bends away from the normal
What is dispersion?
Process of separating colours by medium
How does white light refract?
Refracts when it enters prism, refracts again when it leaves
How does red light behave?
Slowest, refracts the least, infrared
How does violet light behave?
Fastest, refracts the most, ultraviolet
