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mcat physics > Lect. 8 Light & Optics > Flashcards

Lect. 8 Light & Optics Flashcards

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MCAT flashcards Physics 101 flashcards
1
Q

transverse wave
travelling oscillation of an electric and magnetic field (perpendicular to each other)
direction of propogation is perpendicular to both fields

A

electromagnetic wave

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2
Q

constant value for each particular wave

= E / B

A

speed of an electromagnetic wave (c) through a vacuum

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3
Q

a small sliver from the electromagnetic spectrum

includes wavelengths 390 - 700 (*10^-9 nm)

A

light

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4
Q

“color” / wave in electromagnetic spectrum w/ the highest energy, shortest wavelength, and highest frequency
travels slowest through a medium (700)

A

violet light

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5
Q

“color” / wave in electromagnetic spectrum w/ the lowest energy, longest wavelength, lowest frequency, travels fastst through a medium (390 nm)

A

red light

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6
Q

“beyond violet”

just beyond the visible spectrum on the smaller wavelength side; very high in energy

A

Ultraviolet Light

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7
Q

just beyond visible spectrum on the longer wavelength side; very low in energy

A

Infrared light

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8
Q

Equation: speed of light (wavelength w/ corresponding frequency)

A

c = f * wavelength

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9
Q

used to find the speed of light constant through some medium

compares c in a vacuum to c through some medium

A

Index of Refraction (n)

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10
Q

Equation: index of refraction (n)

A

n = c / v

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11
Q

All media have an index of refraction (n) ____ than 1.

A

greater than

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12
Q

A higher index of refraction (n) indicates that a wave moves _______ through the medium

A

slowly

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13
Q

Index of refraction for water

A

n (water) = 1.3

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14
Q

Index of refraction for glass

A

n (glass) = 1.5

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15
Q

light w/ electric fields all oriented in the same direction

A

plane-polarized light

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16
Q

The dual nature of light states that light acts like a ____ and a _____.

A

wave and a particle

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17
Q

angle at which a light ray strikes an interface

A

angle of incidence

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18
Q

angle at which light ray is reflected off an interface

A

angle of reflection

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19
Q

angle at which a light ray may refract off an interface

ange of incidence = angle of reflection

A

angle of refraction

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20
Q

Equation: Snell’s Law

-Described angle of Refraction

A

n1 * sin(ø)1 = n2 * sin(ø)2

Note: n1 and n2 = respective interfacing media; doesn’t matter which is which

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21
Q

When light crosses into a new medium, _____ is constant but ____ changes.

A

frequency is constant but wavelength changes

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22
Q

If the index of refraction (n) goes up, light slows down and ______ shortens

A

wavelength

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23
Q

If the index of refraction (n) goes down, light ______ and wavelength lengthens

A

speeds up

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24
Q

Equation: Energy of a Photon

A

E = h * f

Note: h = Planck’s constant

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25
Q

If the frequency is doubled in the energy for a single photon, you also double the number of photons and increase intensity by _____

A

4

26
Q

if the angle of incidence is large enough, all photons reflect and none refract;

A

total internal reflection

Note: angle is called the CRITICAL ANGLE

27
Q

white light is split into FREQUENCIES of the visible spectrum by a prism

A

chromatic dispersion

28
Q

bending waves around a corner through a small opening

A

diffraction

29
Q

when diffracting light, a smaller hole _____ spreading of the light

A

increases

30
Q

diffraction can create light/dark bands or colors by ____ when waves meet

A

interference

31
Q

interference that results in bright bands

A

constructive interference

32
Q

interference that results in dark bands

A

destructive interference

33
Q

Mirrors _____ light

A

reflect

34
Q

lenses _____ light

A

refract

35
Q

an image that does not actually exist except to the observer; no light rays come from this image;
Ex: reflection in a flat mirror; mirage, fish seen from shore

A

virtual image

36
Q

an image that exists separately from the observer; rays of light intersect and emanate from the point of intersection

A

real image

37
Q

mirror that is curved out to the observer

A

convex mirror

38
Q

mirror that is curved in, away from the observer

A

concave mirror

39
Q

lens that acts like a concave mirror

A

converging lens

40
Q

lens that acts like a convex mirror

A

diverging lens

41
Q

if the center of a lens is thicker than its ends, it will _____ light regardless of the shape or which direction light moves through the lens

A

converge

thiCker Center Converges

42
Q

If the center of a lens is thinner than its ends, it will _____ light

A

diverge

43
Q

small section of a curve that could be extended to form a perfect circle; radius of a small section is = to the radius of the entire circle
smaller value means a sharper curve

A

radius of curvature

44
Q

type of mirror (ex: convex / concave)
only parabolically curved surfaces will focus all parallel lines to a single focal point; all equations require rays of light at small angles

A

spherical mirrors

45
Q

light from horizontal rays is reflected by concave mirrors or refracted by converging lenses to focus on a single point
Affected by: refractive index of lens, medium lens is in, and radius of curvature

A

focal point

46
Q

Convex mirrors and diverging lenses reflect/refract horizontal rays ________, found by tracing back along the reflected or refracted ray behind the mirror/lens

A

outward from a single point

47
Q

focal point for any mirror or lens is separated from the mirror or lens by the ____

A

focal length

48
Q

Equation: focal length of mirror related to radium of curvature

A

f(mirror) = 1/2 * r

49
Q

quality of a lens that is inverse of focal length
measured in diopters
SI unit = 1 / m

A

Power

50
Q

ratio of the size of the image to the size of the object
can compare height of the image to the heigh of the object
= negative ratio of distance of the image over the distance of the object from the light source

A

lateral magnification (m)

51
Q

Equation: Lateral Magnification

A

m = - d(i) / d(o) = h(i) / h(o)

52
Q

the closest distance an object can be to an individual while they can still focus clearly on the object

A

near point

53
Q

angle occupied by an object when at the near point compared to the angle occupied by the image of the object when in front of a lens

A

angular magnification: m(q)

54
Q

Equation: Angular magnification

A

m(ø) = ø(image) / ø(np)

55
Q

Equation: Thin Lens Equation

A

1/f = 1 / d(o) + 1 / d(i)
Note: f = focal length
Applicable to any mirror or lens

56
Q

Mirror that makes a positive, real, inverted image

unless object is w/i the focal distance!

A

concave mirror

57
Q

mirror that always makes a negative, virtual, upright image

A

convex mirror

58
Q

type of lens that makes a positive, real, inverted image

unless object is w/i the focal distance!

A

converging lens

59
Q

type of lens that always makes a negative, virtual, upright image

A

diverging lens

60
Q

for a _____ mirror and a _____ lens, focal length is always negative

A

convex mirror

diverging lens

61
Q

for a ______ mirror and a ____ lens, focal length is always positive

A

concave mirror

converging lens

mcat physics (5 decks)

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