Refraction Flashcards
What is the definition of refraction?
The change in the velocity of light (waves) as it moves from one medium to another
What is the gradient of a sin(θ1)/sin(θ2) graph equal to?
The refractive index of the material
What colour on the visible spectrum has the lowest refractive index?
Red
What colour on the visible spectrum has the highest refractive index?
Violet
How is the speed, wavelength and frequency of a wave affected during refraction?
- speed of wave reduces
- wavelength reduces
- frequency is constant
Definition of total internal reflection?
When a ray of light travelling in a more dense substance, meets a boundary of a less dense substance, at an angle greater than the critical angle, the ray is reflected inside the more dense substance.
What is the critical angle?
The angle of incidence such that the angle of refraction equals 90°
When angle θ > c what happens
Total internal reflection
When angle θ < c what happens?
Refraction
