Chapter 7 Flashcards
What is the relationship between a diamond and light?
It consists of how light strikes the surface, travels within the diamond, and returns to the eye.
What are the key elements that affect a polished diamond’s interaction with light?
Diamond’s optical properties, design, and quality of its cut.
What is reflection in the context of light interaction with surfaces?
When part of the light returns to the observer after hitting the boundary of two different materials.
What does the law of reflection state?
The angle at which light approaches the surface is equal to the angle at which light returns from the surface.
What is the angle of incidence?
The angle at which a light ray strikes the surface, measured from the normal.
What happens to the angle of reflection when the angle of incidence changes?
The angle of reflection also changes; they are always equal.
What type of surfaces generate high reflection?
Smooth surfaces, such as mirrors.
What is incident light?
Light approaching a surface.
What is the difference between high reflection and low reflection?
High reflection makes an object look shiny, while low reflection makes it look dull.
What occurs during refraction?
Part of the light is reflected, while the rest enters the material, changing direction and speed.
What is the angle of refraction?
The angle between the normal and the refracted light.
What is optical density?
The ability of a material to slow down light.
What is refractive index (RI)?
A measure of how the speed and direction of light change in a material compared to in air.
What is the refractive index of diamond?
2.417.
When does refracted light bend toward the normal?
When light travels from a less refractive material to a more refractive material.
What happens to light when it enters a diamond from the air?
It bends toward the normal.
Fill in the blank: The angle of incidence is larger than the angle of refraction when light travels from a _______ to a _______ material.
less refractive, more refractive
True or False: Rough surfaces generate high reflection.
False
What does the speed of light depend on?
The material it travels through
Different materials have varying effects on the speed of light.
How do tightly bonded carbon atoms in diamond affect light speed?
They dramatically slow incoming light
The structure of diamond’s atoms is crucial in this process.
Which materials slow light less than diamond?
- Quartz
- Corundum
- Topaz
These materials have atoms that are not as tightly packed and are made of different elements.
What is the speed of light in a near-vacuum of outer space?
About 300,000 kilometers per second
This is the maximum speed of light in a vacuum.
What is the speed of light in water?
About 225,000 kilometers per second
Water slows light compared to its speed in a vacuum.
What is the speed of light in diamond?
About 124,000 kilometers per second
This is significantly slower than in water and a vacuum.