Refraction

Question 0

angle of refraction

Answer 0

the angle between the refracted ray and the normal

Question 1

refraction

Answer 1

the bending or change in direction of light when it travels from one medium into another

Question 2

critical angle

Answer 2

the angle of incidence that results in an angle of refraction of 90 degrees

Question 3

total internal reflection

Answer 3

the situation when the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle

Question 4

total internal reflection occurs when…

Answer 4

1. light is travelling more slowly in the first medium than in the second
2. the angle of incidence is large enough that no refraction occurs in the second medium. Instead, the ray is reflected back into the first medium

Question 5

retro-reflector

Answer 5

an optical device in which the emergent ray is parallel to the incident ray

Question 6

apparent depth

Answer 6

the depth that an object appears to be at due to the refraction of light in a transparent medium

Question 7

mirage

Answer 7

a virtual image that forms as a result of refraction and total internal reflection in Earth’s atmosphere

Question 8

dispersion

Answer 8

the separation of white light into its constituent colours