Topic 5 - Light And The Electromagnetic Spectrum - Ray Diagrams Flashcards
What do arrows in ray diagrams represent?
Direction of light travelling
What is the normal in ray diagrams?
An imaginary dashed line which is perpendicular to the surface
What is the incident angle?
The angle of the entering ray
What is the reflected angle?
The angle of the exiting ray
True or False: The incident angle is equal to the reflected angle.
True
What is the measurement reference for angles in ray diagrams?
Angles are always measured from the normal
What happens to light when it enters a denser material?
It bends towards the normal
What happens to light when it enters a less dense material?
It bends away from the normal
What is total internal reflection (TIR)?
Occurs when light passes from a denser medium into a less dense medium
What happens if the angle of incidence equals the critical angle?
The refracted ray will pass along the boundary and not exit the medium
What is the critical angle?
A unique angle for each two media
What occurs for angles larger than the critical angle?
The light internally reflects back into the denser medium
Fill in the blank: If the angle is LESS than the critical angle, light refracts _______.
away from normal
Fill in the blank: If the angle is EQUAL to the critical angle, light passes _______.
along the boundary
Fill in the blank: If the angle is MORE than the critical angle, light _______.
reflects
