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Questions and Answers
What is the phenomenon that occurs at the boundary between two media when the incident angle in the first medium is greater than the critical angle?
What is the phenomenon that occurs at the boundary between two media when the incident angle in the first medium is greater than the critical angle?
What law is used to predict the deflection of light rays passing through linear media?
What law is used to predict the deflection of light rays passing through linear media?
What is crucial for the creation of reflected images associated with real or virtual objects?
What is crucial for the creation of reflected images associated with real or virtual objects?
Which phenomenon involves the spreading of white light into its full spectrum of wavelengths?
Which phenomenon involves the spreading of white light into its full spectrum of wavelengths?
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What principle does fiber optics rely on to transmit light down fibers of plastic or glass?
What principle does fiber optics rely on to transmit light down fibers of plastic or glass?
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What model of optics describes light propagation in terms of rays?
What model of optics describes light propagation in terms of rays?
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According to Fermat's principle, what is the path that a ray of light will take between two points?
According to Fermat's principle, what is the path that a ray of light will take between two points?
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What is the simplification used in geometrical optics that enables the mathematical behavior to become linear?
What is the simplification used in geometrical optics that enables the mathematical behavior to become linear?
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What is the property of light rays in geometrical optics when they encounter interfaces between different media?
What is the property of light rays in geometrical optics when they encounter interfaces between different media?
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Which technique in optics is used to find approximate image and object positions in optical systems?
Which technique in optics is used to find approximate image and object positions in optical systems?
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Study Notes
Geometrical Optics
Geometrical optics, also known as ray optics, is a model of optics that describes light propagation in terms of rays. In this model, light rays are assumed to travel in straight lines within homogeneous media and to bend when encountering interfaces between different media. The simplifying assumptions of geometrical optics include that light rays propagate in straight-line paths, bend at the interface between two dissimilar media, follow curved paths in a medium where the refractive index changes, and may be absorbed or reflected.
Light Rays and Fermat's Principle
A light ray is a line or curve that is perpendicular to the light's wavefronts and is therefore collinear with the wavefront. A more rigorous definition of a light ray follows from Fermat's principle, which states that the path taken between two points by a ray of light is the path that can be traversed in the least time.
Paraxial Approximation
Geometrical optics is often simplified by making the paraxial approximation, also known as the "small angle approximation." This simplification allows for the mathematical behavior to become linear, enabling optical components and systems to be described by simple matrices. This leads to the techniques of Gaussian optics and paraxial ray tracing, which are used to find basic properties of optical systems, such as approximate image and object positions and magnifications.
Reflection
Mirrors reflect light in a simple, predictable way, which is crucial for the creation of reflected images that can be associated with an actual (real) or extrapolated (virtual) object. The angle of incidence required for this scenario is known as Brewster's angle.
Refraction
Snell's Law is used to predict the deflection of light rays as they pass through linear media, provided that the indexes of refraction are given.
Total Internal Reflection
Total internal reflection is a phenomenon that occurs at the boundary between two media when the incident angle in the first medium is greater than the critical angle. Fiber optics relies on this principle of total internal reflection to transmit light down fibers of plastic or glass.
Dispersion
Dispersion is the spreading of white light into its full spectrum of wavelengths. Rainbows are produced by a combination of refraction and reflection, involving the dispersion of sunlight into a continuous spectrum of wavelengths.
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Description
Explore key concepts in geometrical optics such as light rays, Fermat's principle, paraxial approximation, reflection, refraction, total internal reflection, and dispersion. Learn about the behavior of light in different media, including the bending of light rays, reflection and refraction at interfaces, and the phenomenon of dispersion.
