The Nature of Light

Question 1

The study of behavior of light.

Answer 1

Optics

Question 2

Why is it that without light, we have no sight?

Answer 2

Because absence of light is darkness.

Question 3

The duality of Light.

Answer 3

Light is a particle and a wave.

Question 4

Light as a particle

Answer 4

• any single photon has a fixed, discrete energy level.
• each color of light has its own unique energy level.
• light waves are packaged in discrete bundles called photons.

Question 5

Light as a wave

Answer 5

Light was the first recognized scientifically as a manifestation of electromagnetic energy so it can be represented as a waveform.

Question 6

The locus of points characterized by propagation of position of the same phase.

Answer 6

Wave front

Question 7

An imaginary line along the direction of travel of the wave.

Answer 7

Light ray

Question 8

Occurs when light waves encounter a surface or another boundary that does not absorb it and bounces the waves away from the source.

Answer 8

Reflection

Question 9

What are the two types of reflection?

Answer 9

Specular reflection and Diffuse reflection

Question 10

Reflection at a definite angle from a very smooth surface.

Answer 10

Specular reflection

Question 11

A scattered reflection from a rough surface.

Answer 11

Diffuse reflection

Question 12

Law of Reflection: The incident and reflected rays and the normal line to the surface, …

Answer 12

All lie in the same plane.

Question 13

Law of Reflection

Answer 13

The angle of reflection is equal to the angle of incidence for all wavelengths and for any pair of materials.

Question 14

The change in direction of a wave due to a change in its transmission medium.

Answer 14

Refraction

Question 15

Law of Refraction: The incident and refracted rays and the normal line to the surface, …

Answer 15

All lie in the same plane.

Question 16

Law of refraction is governed by this law.

Answer 16

Snell’s Law

Question 17

The process in which waves of different frequencies travel at different speeds through a medium, resulting in the separation of the wave into its constituent frequencies.

Answer 17

Dispersion

Question 18

The amount of dispersion is dependent on what?

Answer 18

Dependent on the difference between the refractive indices of the violet and red light. Greater difference, a bigger amount of dispersion.

Question 19

A phenomenon where all the incident light is reflected.

Answer 19

Total Internal Reflection

Question 20

What are the two reasons why total internal reflection occurs.

Answer 20

• Light travels from denser medium to a less dense medium (greater -> less)
• When the angle of incidence is greater that the critical angle (incidence angle > critical angle)

Question 21

A phenomenon wherein the vibration of the transverse wave is parallel to a fixed line in space.

Answer 21

Polarization

Question 22

What do you call the fixed line in space?

Answer 22

Polarizing axis