Podcast
Questions and Answers
How does the speed of light behave when it transitions from a vacuum to another medium?
How does the speed of light behave when it transitions from a vacuum to another medium?
- It decreases due to interactions with the medium. (correct)
- It increases due to lower resistance.
- It remains constant because the light source does not change.
- It fluctuates randomly depending on the color of light.
What phenomenon causes light to change direction when it passes from air into water?
What phenomenon causes light to change direction when it passes from air into water?
- Refraction, due to the change in speed. (correct)
- Reflection, due to the smooth surface of water.
- Dispersion, due to the separation of colors.
- Absorption, due to water's optical density.
Which property of a medium determines how much light will bend when entering it from another medium?
Which property of a medium determines how much light will bend when entering it from another medium?
- The color of the medium, which affects wavelength.
- The refractive index, which indicates optical density. (correct)
- The texture of the surface, which scatters light.
- The temperature of the medium, which affects light's energy.
How does increasing the angle at which light strikes a surface (incident angle) typically affect the amount of refraction?
How does increasing the angle at which light strikes a surface (incident angle) typically affect the amount of refraction?
Under what condition will light still slow down upon entering a new substance but not change direction?
Under what condition will light still slow down upon entering a new substance but not change direction?
What process explains how white light is separated into its constituent colors when passing through a prism?
What process explains how white light is separated into its constituent colors when passing through a prism?
Which color of light has the highest wavelength in the visible spectrum?
Which color of light has the highest wavelength in the visible spectrum?
What is the critical angle in the context of total internal reflection?
What is the critical angle in the context of total internal reflection?
Under what conditions does total internal reflection occur?
Under what conditions does total internal reflection occur?
How are refractive index and the speed of light in a medium related?
How are refractive index and the speed of light in a medium related?
What is the essential condition for total internal reflection regarding the refractive indices ($n_1$ and $n_2$) of two media?
What is the essential condition for total internal reflection regarding the refractive indices ($n_1$ and $n_2$) of two media?
What optical phenomenon explains the formation of mirages?
What optical phenomenon explains the formation of mirages?
What is the role of cladding in optical fibers?
What is the role of cladding in optical fibers?
How do optical fibers transmit light signals?
How do optical fibers transmit light signals?
Why are optical fibers used in endoscopes?
Why are optical fibers used in endoscopes?
When a light ray passes from air into water, what happens to its wavelength?
When a light ray passes from air into water, what happens to its wavelength?
When a ray of light passes from glass into air, how does it behave?
When a ray of light passes from glass into air, how does it behave?
What term describes the bending of light as it transitions from one medium to another?
What term describes the bending of light as it transitions from one medium to another?
Which of the following materials has the highest refractive index?
Which of the following materials has the highest refractive index?
Under what circumstance does total internal reflection occur?
Under what circumstance does total internal reflection occur?
Flashcards
What is refraction?
What is refraction?
The bending of light rays as they pass from one medium to another.
What causes refraction?
What causes refraction?
Light bends when it travels into a substance of different optical density.
What is the angle of incidence?
What is the angle of incidence?
The angle between the incident ray and the normal.
What is the 'normal' line?
What is the 'normal' line?
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How much does light bend?
How much does light bend?
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What is dispersion of light?
What is dispersion of light?
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What is refractive index?
What is refractive index?
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What is Total Internal Reflection?
What is Total Internal Reflection?
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When does total internal reflection occur?
When does total internal reflection occur?
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What is the critical angle?
What is the critical angle?
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What is a mirage?
What is a mirage?
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What are optical fibers used for?
What are optical fibers used for?
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Study Notes
Refraction of Light
- Light refraction is the bending of light rays when they move from one medium to another, altering their path.
- Refraction is caused by changes in the speed of light rays or waves.
- Light speed is highest in a vacuum.
Change of Speed and Direction
- Light refracts when entering a substance at an angle with a different refractive index (optical density).
- Direction change results from speed change; light slows down moving from air to water, altering its angle or direction.
Light Bending in Water
- When light moves from air to water, its direction changes slightly, and this is known as refraction.
- Light bends more toward the normal when entering a denser substance (higher refractive index).
- The extent of bending is influenced by:
- Change in speed: greater speed change equals greater refraction (bending).
- Angle of incidence: greater angle of entry results in a more noticeable refraction
Dispersion of Light
- Light dispersion is splitting white light into its spectrum of colours.
- Dispersion occurs when white light passes through a glass prism.
- A prism bends light twice, and the emerging ray is at an angle to the incident ray.
- The order of colours is red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet (ROYGBIV).
- Red has the highest wavelength, while violet has the lowest.
Total Internal Reflection
- It is a phenomenon where light in a medium is completely reflected back into that medium.
- It occurs when the incident angle surpasses the critical angle.
- The critical angle is the incident angle that results in a 90° refraction angle.
- In order for total internal reflection of light to happen:
- The light ray must travel from a denser to a rarer medium.
- The angle of incidence must be greater than the critical angle.
- Refractive index specifies how fast light can travel through a medium.
- Refractive index and light speed are inversely related; denser media allow faster travel.
- Initially denser mediums with higher refractive indexes(n₁) paired with rarer mediums with lower refractive indexes (n₂) are needed for total internal reflection, where n₁>n₂.
Mirages
- A mirage is a natural process causing light rays to bend, which produces a displaced image of distant objects or the sky,.
Optical Fibres
- Optical fibres are utilized in many fields like communications to transmit signals (telephone, cable, TV, internet, and medical).
- Fibres are slender, enabling light to enter from one end, striking the inside at an angle greater than the critical angle, helping it travel through and exit at the same angle as entry.
- An optical fibre is a non-conducting waveguide that transmits light along its axis through total internal reflection.
- Endoscopes utilize optical fibres coated in cladding with a lower refractive index to view interior body passageways in medical physics.
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