Light Refraction

Light Refraction

• Refraction is the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another with a different optical density.
• It occurs because light travels at different speeds in different mediums.
• The amount of bending depends on the angle of incidence, the angle of refraction, and the refractive indices of the two mediums.
• Snell's Law describes the relationship between the angles of incidence and refraction: n1 sin(θ1) = n2 sin(θ2) where n1 and n2 are the refractive indices of the two mediums, and θ1 and θ2 are the angles of incidence and refraction, respectively.

Total Internal Reflection

• Total internal reflection occurs when light hits a medium with a lower refractive index at an angle greater than the critical angle.
• The critical angle is the angle of incidence above which total internal reflection occurs.
• Total internal reflection is used in optical fibers to transmit data over long distances.

Light Reflection

• Reflection is the change in direction of light when it hits a surface and bounces back.
• There are two types of reflection:
  • Specular reflection: Light is reflected at the same angle as the angle of incidence, creating a mirror-like effect.
  • Diffuse reflection: Light is scattered in different directions, creating a soft, non-mirror-like effect.

Laws of Reflection

• The law of reflection states that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.
• The normal to the surface is the line perpendicular to the surface at the point of incidence.
• The incident ray, reflected ray, and normal all lie in the same plane.

Mirrors

• Mirrors work by reflecting light using specular reflection.
• There are two types of mirrors:
  • Plane mirrors: Flat mirrors that produce a virtual image.
  • Spherical mirrors: Curved mirrors that can produce either a real or virtual image, depending on the object's position.

Light Refraction

• Refraction occurs when light passes from one medium to another with a different optical density, causing it to bend.
• Light travels at different speeds in different mediums, resulting in refraction.
• The amount of bending depends on the angle of incidence, the angle of refraction, and the refractive indices of the two mediums.
• Snell's Law describes the relationship between the angles of incidence and refraction: n1 sin(θ1) = n2 sin(θ2).

Total Internal Reflection

• Total internal reflection occurs when light hits a medium with a lower refractive index at an angle greater than the critical angle.
• The critical angle is the angle of incidence above which total internal reflection occurs.
• Total internal reflection is used in optical fibers to transmit data over long distances.

Light Reflection

• Reflection is the change in direction of light when it hits a surface and bounces back.
• There are two types of reflection: specular reflection and diffuse reflection.
• Specular reflection occurs when light is reflected at the same angle as the angle of incidence, creating a mirror-like effect.
• Diffuse reflection occurs when light is scattered in different directions, creating a soft, non-mirror-like effect.

Laws of Reflection

• The law of reflection states that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.
• The normal to the surface is the line perpendicular to the surface at the point of incidence.
• The incident ray, reflected ray, and normal all lie in the same plane.

Mirrors

• Mirrors work by reflecting light using specular reflection.
• There are two types of mirrors: plane mirrors and spherical mirrors.
• Plane mirrors produce a virtual image.
• Spherical mirrors can produce either a real or virtual image, depending on the object's position.

Learn about the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another, including Snell's Law and refractive indices.