Topic 5 - Light & The EM Spectrum - Light & Colour

Question 1

What is total internal reflection

Answer 1

1) when light is completely reflected back at a boundary between two mediums

2) it occupies when light meets a less dense medium at an angle of incidence larger than the critical angle

Question 2

What is the critical angle

Answer 2

The angle of incidence which causes the angle of reflection to be 90 degrees

Question 3

What determines the colour of visible light waves

Answer 3

The wavelength and frequency of the light waves

Question 4

What colour of visible light has the highest frequency

Answer 4

Blue

Question 5

What colour of visible light has the largest wave length

Answer 5

Red

Question 6

What is meant by the term speculate reflection

Answer 6

Rays are reflected from a smooth surface in a single direction

Question 7

What is meant by the term diffuse reflection

Answer 7

Reflection from a rough surface which causes scattering

Question 8

How does a red colour filter work

Answer 8

1) a red filter absorbs all wavelengths of light other that those in the red range of the spectrum

2) this means only red light passes though the filter

Question 9

What is meant by opaque

Answer 9

Not see though

Question 10

What governs the colour of an opaque object

Answer 10

1) different objects reflect different wave lengths of light by different amounts

2) the wave lengths that are most strongly reflected determine the colour

Question 11

What happens to the wave lengths of light that aren’t reflected by an opaque object

Answer 11

Any wavelengths that aren’t reflected are absorbed by the object

Question 12

What colour does an object appear if all wavelengths are reflected by equal amounts

Answer 12

White

Question 13

What colour does an object appear if all wavelengths are absorbed

Answer 13

Black