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Optical Mineralogy > Theory of Light > Flashcards

Theory of Light Flashcards

1
Q

the electromagnetic radiation of any wavelength

A

Light

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2
Q

value of the speed of light

A

3.00x10^8 m/s

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3
Q

True or False: light travels faster through matter

A

False: light travels slower through matter

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4
Q

4 primary properties of light

A
  1. intensity
  2. propagation direction
  3. frequency/wavelength
  4. polarization
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5
Q

the branch of physics that deals with light

A

Optics

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6
Q

what theory states that light is composed of subatomic particles (quanta) called photons

A

Particle Theory

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7
Q

what theory states that light is a form of radiant energy that travels wave-like from one point to another

A

Wave Theory

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8
Q

this is an experiment that proved that light behaves as a wave and as a particle

A

Double-slit experiment

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9
Q

this is a subatomic particle known to be discrete pockets of energy and carry momentum. It has no mass and travels at the speed of light

A

Photons

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10
Q

The main source of natural light on earth

A

Sun

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11
Q

True or False: the cornea absorbs below 360nm

A

True

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12
Q

contains both electric and magnetic fields that oscillate

A

electromagnetic radiation

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13
Q
  • perpendicular to magnetic field
  • useful in optical mineralogy
  • E
A

Electric field Vector

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14
Q
  • perpendicular to the electric field
  • small and can be ignored
  • B
A

Magnetic Field

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15
Q

True or False: the electric field and magnetic field are perpendicular to the propagation direction of the wave

A

True

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16
Q
  • the number of crests/ troughs that pass a given point within a second
  • Hertz (Hz) ; F
A

Frequency

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17
Q

distance between two crests

A

Wavelength

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18
Q

amount of kinetic energy

A

Energy

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19
Q

important in understanding how light moves through samples and microscopes

A

Propagation Direction

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20
Q
  • represents the direction of propagation of light energy
  • not always parallel to wave normal
21
Q

what is the relationship of frequency and wavelength?

A

indirectly proportional

22
Q
  • light rays are parallel to wave normal
  • same velocity of light in all directions
  • bonds are the same in all directions
A

Isotropic materials

23
Q

examples of isotropic materials

A

isometric minerals and mineraloids

24
Q
  • light rays are not parallel to wave normal
  • different velocity of light in all directions
  • bonds are not the same in all directions
A

Anisotropic materials

25
Q

examples of anisotropic materials

A
  • tetragonal
  • hexagonal
  • orthorhombic
  • monoclinic
  • triclinic
26
Q

True or False: light rays travelling along the same path in the same direction will NOT interfere w/ each other

A

False: they will interfere with each other

27
Q

distance that one wave lags behind the other

A

Retardation

28
Q

an interference where two waves are said to be in-phase or in-sync

A

Constructive Interference

29
Q

an interference where two waves are said to be out of phase or out of sync

A

Destructive Interference

30
Q

visible light with one wavelength

A

Monochromatic light

31
Q

visible light with several wavelengths perceived as one color

A

Polychromatic light

32
Q

amount of light that can successfully PASS THROUGH a medium

A

Transmission

33
Q

amount of LIGHT ENERGY that materials can absorb, reflect, and scatter

A

Transmittance

34
Q

incident light hits an object and bounces off

A

Reflection

35
Q

incident light causes atoms and molecules to vibrate

A

Absorption

36
Q

bending and spreading of waves around an obstacle

A

Diffraction

37
Q

light bounces off an object in a variety of directions

A

Scattering

38
Q

light waves change direction as they pass from one medium to another

A

Refraction

39
Q

limiting the direction of oscillation

A

Polarization

40
Q

measures how effective a material is in bending light

A

Index of refraction

41
Q

most minerals have indices of refraction that fall in the range of ____________.

A

1.4 to 2.0

42
Q

this law states that light is refracted towards the normal upon a medium with higher index of refraction

A

Snell’s Law

43
Q

ordinary light that vibrates in all directions

A

Unpolarized

44
Q

True or False: All crystalline materials are birefringent

A

False: not all, isotropic materials are not birefringent

45
Q

the difference of the indices of refraction that associated with different crystallographic directions

A

Birefringence

46
Q

True or False: materials with high index of refraction accelerates the velocity of transmitted light

A

False: materials with high index of refraction slows the velocity of transmitted light

47
Q

this visible light has the highest frequency

48
Q

this visible light has the lowest frequency

Optical Mineralogy (7 decks)

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